The idea that workers in wealthy countries like the United States are part of a “labor aristocracy” bought off with the fruits of imperialism is nonsense. The best way to build a movement against US imperialism is to build the labor movement domestically.
The labor movement is picking up in the imperial core and these people are trying to ride its coattails as supposed experts on it. The labor movement is also picking up among socialist organizations in the imperial core and these academics don't want it polluted by those dirty tankies.