Constructs and Roles of Culture in National and Other Social Formations and Imperial Soft-Power Projections

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper discusses the imperative for Marxist Theory ←→ Praxis to develop and respond to/counter ongoing even urgent imperial efforts to develop scientific approaches to the study of the nature and evolution of human consciousness, cognition, learning, perception, susceptibility to soft and hard forms of power, propaganda and imperial social systems engineering. Specifically how do shifting socio-historical-economic-political definitions, constructs and realities of culture, tribe, nation, ethnicity, race, nationality, interpenetrate with and shape human cognition, perception, prejudices, and class consciousness as central to but not all of overall consciousness? How are these constructs used in concrete ways to foster imperial penetrations, co-optations, control and subversion? What are some emerging issues and areas in need of research as well as concrete ways that constructs like culture can be and are being used to promote false consciousness, reactionary tribalism and forms of “patriotism,” exceptionalism, triumphalism and neo-Cold War posturing. What are the implications of sub-cultures within alleged broader homogenous national cultures, imperial promotion of forms of supposed exceptionalism and triumphalism trumping class-based cultures and their inherent antagonisms vs. socialist social formations intent on reducing class-based cultures and their antagonisms with no imperatives or intent for domination and hegemony?