All Claiming Victory

Arup Baisya

Aggression against Iran by the US and against Ukraine by Russia must cease permanently. All wars should come to a permanent end. The genocide of Palestinians must stop without delay, and their rights must be upheld. Iran should not compromise on promoting a coalition of imperialist puppets to take power in Palestine.

The war of bombardment of one another’s targeted locations is over, at least for now, by the declaration of a ceasefire. The US involvement became increasingly evident when it attacked Iran’s nuclear facility. Now, two warring sides, Israel and Iran, along with the US, are all claiming victory. The God of the sky, Zeus, enjoyed watching three rulers compete for control of the sky, but he did not allow any of them to take absolute power. However, Prometheus was unable to save the innocent Anthropos from facing Zeus’s wrath and tragically dying, as the competitors viewed this outcome as mere collateral damage–this was simply a rule of the game.

On day one, when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian territory, did Israel anticipate that Iran would become bogged down? When the US supported Israel and threatened Iran, was the US-Israel alliance expecting to dismantle Iran through regime change, assuming the Iranian Khomeini regime would not surrender? Some on the left viewed this as reminiscent of the moment of the Iraq War; the only difference was Iran’s possession of advanced, technology-based missiles. When Iran retaliated and caused chaos in Israel, a different viewpoint emerged from the left. They believed this was an opportunity to teach the US-Israel alliance a lesson, bolstered by support from Russia and China. Now, as the world approaches the endgame, a third opinion has arisen within the left-leaning segments of the Indian political landscape. This perspective encompasses the previous two views, declaring the ceasefire a victory for the Iranian people, albeit under pressure from the multipolar global order.

The failure of the neoliberal framework, which is based on the Washington Consensus, has led to instability within the capitalist system. In this context, the rise of China presents an opportunity for change. During this transitional phase, the system becomes unstable as the working class loses faith in it. The new world order must address the growing demands of the working masses to restore stability to the system. Does this transitional phase signal the emergence of genuine multi-polarity, suggesting a new deal between capital and labour within a new framework? This is especially relevant as the post-war welfare state model is no longer applicable today.

The true democratic multi-polar global order should take precedence over the democratic reform of international organisations; however, this has not happened. Is it a Marxist perspective to believe that the rise of a capitalist power like China is intended to lead the world toward a compromise between capital and labour, thereby limiting the dynamics of capitalism and preventing any state from becoming a global imperial hegemon? Has the global capitalist class found any alternatives to neoliberalism? The answer to all these questions is no. The regulatory and protective measures that have been implemented often create new problems. In response to rising discontent among the masses and to avoid popular uprisings, a transitional phase characterized by the competitive coexistence of two dominant axis powers has emerged.

This transitional phase is characterised by the competitive coexistence of the US and the China-Russia axis. It lies within two extreme boundary conditions: conflict or limited war and peaceful coexistence. The dynamics of this competitive coexistence are influenced by the restless masses, who are eager for potential uprisings. The interplay between war and peace also affects these dynamics. Within this framework, various regional formations are competing with one another to expand their influence. Recently, the US’s decision to step back from its support of the EU regarding Ukraine has left the EU in a position of forced compliance, as if it has rediscovered its European project. This apparent multi-polarity exists under the influence of two axis powers, with alliances that are constantly shifting allegiance, resulting in states that appear relatively independent. In this context, Iran, with its strong defence capabilities and a well-educated religio-bureaucratic elite class, stands out as a relatively independent entity. Meanwhile, both Russia and China have significant interests in both Iran and Israel.

The Palestinian resistance has proven resilient against Israel’s formidable military power, despite the ongoing indiscriminate bombing of Gaza for nearly the past two years. This resilience also explains why Israel’s desperate attempts to engage the US in conflict resolution are unlikely to weaken Iran. Both the US and China-Russia are not interested in extending the war; instead, they aim to establish a balance. A prolonged conflict or power imbalance during this severe economic crisis could trigger uprisings in Arab countries and even in the West. Israel launched attacks on Iran at a time when global protests against Palestinian aggression were escalating. Additionally, Trump abandoned the Abraham Accords and sought to establish relations with Arab nations directly, a move influenced by the rapid decline in Netanyahu’s credibility.

The war ended due to this rising discontent among the global masses. Therefore, the formation of a third axis of a United Front of the Struggling Masses, along with the launch of a movement advocating for the economic and political platform of the Governments of developing countries, must become the focal point of left politics.

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Frontier
Vol 58, No. 4, Jul 20 - 26, 2025