Polemic on General Line of International ... - From Marx to Mao

distribution of forces within the imperialist camp. Followingthe economic centre, the political and military centres of imperialismalso shifted from Europe to the United States ofAmerica. The monopolist bourgeoisie of the U.S.A. has becomethe main citadel of international reaction, and has assumedthe role of the saviour of capitalism. The American imperialistsare now performing the functions of an internationalgendarme. Using the policy of military blocs, the Americanimperialists endeavour to subordinate to their rule other capitaliststates. This evokes opposition to the United States on thepart of France, West Germany, Japan and other major capitaliststates. The recovery of the economy of the capitalist countrieswhich had suffered in the world war, and their rate ofdevelopment, more rapid than in the United States, intensifythe desire of a number of European countries to free themselvesfrom the American diktat. All this leads to the aggravationof existing centres of imperialist competition and conflicts,and the appearance of new ones and weakens thecapitalist system on the whole.The anti-popular and rapacious nature of imperialism hasnot changed, but with the formation of the world socialistsystem and the growth of its economic and military might theability of imperialism to influence the course of historical developmenthas been noticeably narrowed, while the forms andmethods of its struggle against the socialist countries and theworld revolutionary and national-liberation movement havechanged. The imperialists are frightened by the tempestuousgrowth of the forces of socialism and the national-liberationmovement, they unite their forces, make feverish efforts tocontinue the struggle for their exploiting aims, and everywherestrive to undermine the positions of the socialist countries andthe national-liberation movement, and to weaken their influence.It is perfectly obvious that in our age the main content andthe chief trends of the historical development of human societyare no longer determined by imperialism but by the world501