On May 16 in Seoul, Dimitrios Patelis, a representative of Greek Revolutionary Unification and a member of the World Anti-imperialist Platform, participated in an open forum organized by the Political Economy Research Institute PNYX and the National Workers’ Political Association. The meeting was held under the theme “The War in Ukraine and the Greek Communist Party (KKE)’s “Imperialist Pyramid Theory.”
Dimitrios Patelis said that “The Imperialist Pyramid Theory” proposed by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) intentionally confuses the stage of imperialism with the concept of an imperialist state.
He explained, “First, it denies contradictions; second, it denies the distinction between imperialist states and forces of independence or Anti-independence; and third, it denies the existence of a ‘weak link’.”
And he criticized that “According to ‘Imperialist Pyramid Theory’, imperialism exists everywhere, so its any battles becomes opportunistic by nature and As a result, national liberation struggles are unnecessary. Because for them, the concept of ‘stage’ does not exist.”
Moreover, he stated, “According to the Imperialist Pyramid Theory, we actually deny anti-imperialism. Any communist movement becomes just an idea.”
He further emphasized, “The World Anti-Imperialist Platform is essential and strategic. It organizes and advances struggles against imperialism worldwide.” and “We need to expose the reality of the politically and systematically brutal propaganda of the Imperialist Pyramid Theory and fight against it.”
Next, the discussion continued. Baek Cheol-hyeon, editor of the National Workers’ Political Association, criticized, “The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) claims to stand for Marxism-Leninism, but in the end, it follows a Trotskyist line.” “I define the ‘Imperialist Pyramid Theory’ as a theory in service of imperialism. The most crucial issue is its omission of the national liberation struggle, specifically the suppression of nations.”
And he claimed “KKE said there is not the relationship of monopoly domination between colonies and imperialist, but only the inter-imperialist relations. Completely denying the progressive historical achievements of humanity is characteristic of Trotskyism and such historically arguments of the bothsidesism ultimately serve imperialist interests.”
He pointed out “In Northeast Asia, the China-DPRK-Russia alliance and the US-Japan-South Korea alliance are not equivalent imperialist blocs. According to the KKE’s two-sided logic, we should remain ‘neutral’ between these two alliances. This would mean, for instance, denouncing DPRK’s deployment of troops to defend Russia’s Kursk region as participation in an imperialist war of aggression.”
And he warned “If progressive forces were to adopt such a stance, they would end up aligning with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who, citing “sending DPRK’s soldiers to Russia,” sought to justify military support for Ukraine and even contemplated sending troops, using this as a pretext for declaring martial law.”
Kim Jang-min, PNYX Institute for Political Economy, explained “According to the KKE, new imperialist centers such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, as well as ALBA and MERCOSUR in Latin America, are emerging alongside traditional imperialist unions like the US, the European Union, the IMF, the World Bank, and NATO.
In addition he said, “From the KKE’s perspective, the war in Ukraine is not a proxy war led by the US but an imperialist war. The bourgeoisies of the US, Russia, and Ukraine have each formed alliances to wage war for access to resources, energy, territory, labor, and markets.”
He emphasized that “South Korea (“Republic of Korea (ROK)”) can be seen as imperialism just because it builds a factory in Vietnam and exploits it with low wages. It must exercise territorial and political control over the exporting country, but the “ROK” does not exercise absolute and dominant influence over Vietnamese political power. He emphasized that not every invasion and occupation of another country’s territory is not imperialism.
He quoted the theory of Lenin in detail, if the country is imperialist, then that have five characteristics of imperialism, as Monopoly capital, Predominance of finance capital, export of capital, Division of world markets by transnational monopolies, Territorial division of the world by great powers. If you have only one characteristics does not distinguish imperialist.
Meanwhile he revealed the opportunism in the communist forces, “Greece generally afraid of Russia. If they don’t blame Russia, they wouldn’t keep saving the approval rating of Communist party.” Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has not produced only in domestic but also over 10 people in European Parliament. This is like in the “ROK”, the progressive party in the Assembly denounced DPRK expecting to increase vote in the election.”
The discussion ended with a big round of applause, followed by a Q&A session.
During the Q&A, the discussion deepened as participants addressed the origins of the ‘Imperialist Pyramid Theory’, the historical movement of communism in Europe, and the correct perspective on the Ukraine war.
