JVP’s Vision And Policy Frame Work: Is It Dogmatic Or Scientific?

By Hema Senanayake -  April 22, 2014 |

Hema Senanayake

“There is no place for dogmas in science. The scientist is free to ask any question, to doubt any assertion, to seek for evidence, to correct any error. Where science has been used in the past to erect a new dogmatism, that dogmatism has found itself incompatible with the progress of science; and in the end, the dogma has yielded or science and freedom have perished together.” – J. Robert Oppenheimer

It is clear that dogmatism and scientific thinking cannot coexist. In this context, it might be necessary and important to investigate whether theJVP’s Policy Frame Work is truly scientific. If it is not scientific, then you know where it belongs.

JVP accurately identify one thing. On page 27 of the policy document it says: “Economic prosperity and social justice are two essential components to usher in a righteous society.” Let us agree on this statement. However, I intend to focus only on the component of “economic prosperity.” How do they propose to achieve economic prosperity? The answer to this question has been explained under the chapter titled “A Modernized and Industrialized Country” (pp. 12 to 25, English version of the policy doc.)

The first paragraph of this chapter begins as follows:

“Human lives must be simple and easy in a new Socialist State. Hence, consuming goods and services and issues related to the law should all be simple and carried out in a manner that would prevent the unwanted wastage of time and energy. This could be done by getting together as required the simple and advanced management methods, administrative methods adopted by various developed nations around the world.”

Look at the last sentence of the above quote carefully. What does it say? It implies that there are developed nations around the world and those nations have adopted advanced management and administrative methods which methods would be used by the JVP to achieve in a new Socialist State. But the problem is that all the developed nations are capitalist countries and none of them are socialist states. Even though the so called developed nations, having all “advanced management methods”, collapsed economically in 2008 triggering what is now known as “The Great Recession of 2008.” Hence, the JVP’s above assertion is silly and novice in regard to economic governance. Plainly, it is dogmatism. My objective here is not to ridicule the JVP, instead I intend to show them that they need to master on this subject of economics further because as they clearly identify that “economic prosperity” is one of the two components needed in order to “usher a righteous society.”                 Read More