strategies to take power: reform and revolution in latin america iire youth school 2011
TRANSCRIPT
Strategies to take power: Strategies to take power: reform and revolution in Latin reform and revolution in Latin
AmericaAmerica
IIRE IIRE
Youth School 2011Youth School 2011
OutlineOutlineI. Historical overview I. Historical overview • Latin America and its historical capitalismLatin America and its historical capitalism• Struggles and strategies :from Haiti to the Struggles and strategies :from Haiti to the
present daypresent day• Permanent revolutionPermanent revolutionII. Modern strategies :social movements, electoral II. Modern strategies :social movements, electoral
policies, revolutionpolicies, revolution• Debate :Hearse-HollowayDebate :Hearse-Holloway• Problems with ‘Problems with ‘autonomismoautonomismo’ ’ III. Anti-imperialism, Regionalism and Revolutionary III. Anti-imperialism, Regionalism and Revolutionary
ProjectProject• Reform and revolution Reform and revolution • Neoliberal experience and democratizationNeoliberal experience and democratization• Latin American integration, ALBALatin American integration, ALBA• Changes in Cuba Changes in Cuba
Why Latin America?Why Latin America?
“ “On no continent is neoliberalism so widely On no continent is neoliberalism so widely rejected as in Latin America, and no where has rejected as in Latin America, and no where has the resurgence of the Left been so powerful. The the resurgence of the Left been so powerful. The election of Evo Morles in Bolivia and the evolution election of Evo Morles in Bolivia and the evolution of the Hugo Chavez government in Venezuela are of the Hugo Chavez government in Venezuela are hugely ideologically important. Whatever the hugely ideologically important. Whatever the direction and eventual outcome of these direction and eventual outcome of these governments, they have already done an governments, they have already done an enormously important thing –given the arithmetic enormously important thing –given the arithmetic content to the algebraic formula that ‘another content to the algebraic formula that ‘another world is possible’, the only possible one is world is possible’, the only possible one is socialism.” socialism.”
_____ _____ Phil Phil Hearse Hearse
Socialism as a process Socialism as a process
• Renewal of the left in the fight against Renewal of the left in the fight against neoliberalismneoliberalism
• A new encounter with the struggles from the pastA new encounter with the struggles from the past
• Getting rid of Eurocentrist ideasGetting rid of Eurocentrist ideas
• Competition between different political ideasCompetition between different political ideas
• Working out new strategiesWorking out new strategies
II
Historical reflectionsHistorical reflections
Latin America and historical Latin America and historical capitalismcapitalism
• Necessity of understanding the history of Latin Necessity of understanding the history of Latin America in order to understand global capitalismAmerica in order to understand global capitalism• Capitalism and Colonialism as twinsCapitalism and Colonialism as twins• Resistance against the expansion of early Resistance against the expansion of early
EuropeanEuropean capitalism (racist, patriarchal, heterosexist, anti-capitalism (racist, patriarchal, heterosexist, anti- ecological)ecological)• Further reading: Further reading: The black Jacobins The black Jacobins (1938) by (1938) by CRL James, on the Haitian revolution 1789-1805CRL James, on the Haitian revolution 1789-1805
Before, during and after Before, during and after the 19th Centurythe 19th Century
• Before: fragmented struggles against colonialism = Before: fragmented struggles against colonialism = important because part of revolutionary work todayimportant because part of revolutionary work today
• During and a bit later: formation of first working class During and a bit later: formation of first working class …coinciding with Europe (plantations and industrial)…coinciding with Europe (plantations and industrial)
– Trade Unions (legal and illegal)Trade Unions (legal and illegal)– Political organisations : communists, anarchists, Political organisations : communists, anarchists,
socialists, nationalists/anti-imperialistssocialists, nationalists/anti-imperialists– Strategies focused Strategies focused onon unity between workers of unity between workers of
different races and farmers against imperialism (in different races and farmers against imperialism (in alliance with petty bourgeoisie)alliance with petty bourgeoisie)
– Indigenous question is still not resolved (Read: Indigenous question is still not resolved (Read: Seven Interpretive Essays on Peruvian RealitySeven Interpretive Essays on Peruvian Reality by by Jose Carlos Mariategui (1928) Jose Carlos Mariategui (1928)
Revolution : some Revolution : some benchmarksbenchmarks • 1811 – Proclamation of Bolivarian 1811 – Proclamation of Bolivarian
independence (Venezuela)independence (Venezuela)• 1868 – Uproar of Lares and of Yara1868 – Uproar of Lares and of Yara• 1891 – 1889 war between Spain and North 1891 – 1889 war between Spain and North
America over Cuba America over Cuba • 1910 – Mexican Revolution (Emilio Zapata 1910 – Mexican Revolution (Emilio Zapata
against Porfirio Diaz)against Porfirio Diaz)• 1927 – 1933 Agusto Sandino against 1927 – 1933 Agusto Sandino against
Yankee occupationYankee occupation• Anti-imperialist alliances, industrial Anti-imperialist alliances, industrial
workers, farmers, (indigenous people)workers, farmers, (indigenous people)
Stalinization of the communist Stalinization of the communist movementmovement
• Petty bourgeois character of the CP’sPetty bourgeois character of the CP’s
• Dependent on Moscou. Near the USADependent on Moscou. Near the USA
• Strange alliances and contradictions within Strange alliances and contradictions within populism, for example: Cuban PSP supports populism, for example: Cuban PSP supports Fulgencio Batista or communists inside Fulgencio Batista or communists inside peronism; lombardism;peronism; lombardism;
• Michael Löwy: Historia del marxismo en America Michael Löwy: Historia del marxismo en America Latina: 1908 hasta hoy (1980 primera edicion)Latina: 1908 hasta hoy (1980 primera edicion)
• Emergence of Trotskism (Mexico, Cuba, Emergence of Trotskism (Mexico, Cuba, Argentine)Argentine)
Strategies to take Strategies to take powerpower
• 1950s nationalist revolts in Puerto Rico1950s nationalist revolts in Puerto Rico• 1950-1954 Arbenz government in Guatemala1950-1954 Arbenz government in Guatemala• 1959 Cuban revolution (50 years of socialist 1959 Cuban revolution (50 years of socialist
characteristics) and its legacy: guerrilla against characteristics) and its legacy: guerrilla against dictatorship, foquismo and voluntarism (legacy of dictatorship, foquismo and voluntarism (legacy of Che) = strategies historically dated – the Cold War; Che) = strategies historically dated – the Cold War; anti imperialism; many struggles in one; revisit anti imperialism; many struggles in one; revisit Marxism Marxism
• 1970-1973 Popular Front in Chili1970-1973 Popular Front in Chili• 1979- Nicaragua and its legacy: the comrades who 1979- Nicaragua and its legacy: the comrades who
were present; revolution in a very poor Latin were present; revolution in a very poor Latin American country; liberation theology; the American country; liberation theology; the indigenous question (again); handing over to liberal indigenous question (again); handing over to liberal democracy …why? democracy …why?
SummarySummary
• Record of struggles and of strategies Record of struggles and of strategies in Latin America shows us the in Latin America shows us the validity of the Permanent Revolutionvalidity of the Permanent Revolution
• Role and leadership of the working Role and leadership of the working class in the anti imperialist and anti class in the anti imperialist and anti colonial struggles is essentialcolonial struggles is essential
• The fight against capitalism is the The fight against capitalism is the fight against ideological colonialismfight against ideological colonialism
IIII
Strategies and Strategies and Debates Debates
Debates on strategiesDebates on strategies
• Change the world and take the power Change the world and take the power (Hearse-Holloway): starts with the Chiapas (Hearse-Holloway): starts with the Chiapas Revolution of 1994 and ZapatismoRevolution of 1994 and Zapatismo
• Read: Read: State and revolutionState and revolution (Lenin, 1917) (Lenin, 1917) and and The damned of the EarthThe damned of the Earth (Franz (Franz Fanon,1961)Fanon,1961)
• Academic level: postmodernism versus Academic level: postmodernism versus amodernismamodernism
• Autonomism versus revolutionary socialism; Autonomism versus revolutionary socialism; Read: Read: Los problemas del autonomismoLos problemas del autonomismo (problems of autonomism) by Claudio Katz(problems of autonomism) by Claudio Katz
Background of the debates in Background of the debates in Latin AmericaLatin America
• Resistance against neoliberalism from the Resistance against neoliberalism from the 1980’s on – economic/debt crisis, workers 1980’s on – economic/debt crisis, workers mobilizations, defeat/decomposition of workers mobilizations, defeat/decomposition of workers movement, (1989 Caracazo in Venezuela)movement, (1989 Caracazo in Venezuela)
• Political/theoretical defeat post Political/theoretical defeat post soviet/neoliberal thinking; F. Fukiyama; soviet/neoliberal thinking; F. Fukiyama; Castenada, Castells, Hardt and Negri (Empire); Castenada, Castells, Hardt and Negri (Empire); focus on local strugglesfocus on local struggles
• The State=modern structure, power corrupts… The State=modern structure, power corrupts…
• The Cuban exceptionThe Cuban exception
1994, Zapatistas and sub1994, Zapatistas and subCommandant Marcos Commandant Marcos
• Positive points: the indigenous Positive points: the indigenous question indigenous and racism, question indigenous and racism, anti-neoliberal, orientation towards anti-neoliberal, orientation towards the community, inclusivenessthe community, inclusiveness
• Differences: the example can not be Differences: the example can not be reproduced outside Chiapas, the reproduced outside Chiapas, the Mexican State (and its breakdown) Mexican State (and its breakdown) remains the determining factor; remains the determining factor; ironically, authoritarian (see for ex. ironically, authoritarian (see for ex. The Other Campaign, 2006)The Other Campaign, 2006)
Argentine, 2001-2002Argentine, 2001-2002
• Popular revolts in reply to neoliberal Popular revolts in reply to neoliberal measures and measures and recipesrecipes of the IMF/World of the IMF/World Bank; ends with defeat of 3 presidents in Bank; ends with defeat of 3 presidents in one monthone month
• Not instigated by political partiesNot instigated by political parties• Several experiments of workers self- Several experiments of workers self-
management, occupations, bailouts, management, occupations, bailouts, communes, etc. communes, etc.
• Today there is a coexistence between the Today there is a coexistence between the Kichners and the piqueterosKichners and the piqueteros
Brazil, 2002Brazil, 2002
• Historical elections, Lula from the PT wins Historical elections, Lula from the PT wins presidential elections (but not absolute majority in presidential elections (but not absolute majority in parliament)parliament)
• Important: a large country, fifth economy of the Important: a large country, fifth economy of the world, candidate from working class, left party with world, candidate from working class, left party with different tendencies (our section DS was important different tendencies (our section DS was important in the development of projects) in the development of projects)
• Participatory budget (since the nineties)Participatory budget (since the nineties)• MST and PTMST and PT• Lessons: reactionary character of social democracyLessons: reactionary character of social democracy• Debates after the purge, our party PSOLDebates after the purge, our party PSOL• Continuity on the reformist road Continuity on the reformist road
1999, Venezuela 1999, Venezuela State/RevolutionaryState/Revolutionary Process? Process?
• Process started with Caracazo in 1989, anti-neoliberal movement, Process started with Caracazo in 1989, anti-neoliberal movement, coup attempt by Chavez 1992, movement for 5th Republic;coup attempt by Chavez 1992, movement for 5th Republic;
• Historical elections, Chavez, mulatto from the working classHistorical elections, Chavez, mulatto from the working class
• Immediate changes; military-civic movement; new constitution; Immediate changes; military-civic movement; new constitution; creation of parallel structures in management to eventually finish creation of parallel structures in management to eventually finish with the bourgeois state structurewith the bourgeois state structure
• RadicalizationRadicalization after the coup of 2002 after the coup of 2002
• Building of the Party (different tendencies) after the victory (2007)Building of the Party (different tendencies) after the victory (2007)
• The nationalizations and EAS create a space from which the The nationalizations and EAS create a space from which the working class working class couldcould take the power take the power
• Ideological inconsistenciesIdeological inconsistencies
2006, Bolivia2006, Bolivia
• Historic elections, first indigenous government in Historic elections, first indigenous government in a modern State a modern State
• MAS, a party with many tendencies, rooted in MAS, a party with many tendencies, rooted in social movements, in indigenous movement and social movements, in indigenous movement and particularly in trade-unionsparticularly in trade-unions
• Criticism of the modern State, new constitution = Criticism of the modern State, new constitution = pluri-national Boliviapluri-national Bolivia
• Combination of autonomism and party politics Combination of autonomism and party politics (progressive). “Indigenous socialism” (a project (progressive). “Indigenous socialism” (a project of decolonization)of decolonization)
• Rapid changes in form but not in contentRapid changes in form but not in content• What to do with the economy? Conflicts, What to do with the economy? Conflicts,
contradictionscontradictions
IIIIII
Anti-imperialism, Regionalism Anti-imperialism, Regionalism
and the Revolutionary Projectand the Revolutionary Project
Three Tendencies at the Three Tendencies at the national governments level national governments level
• Reactionary-conservativeReactionary-conservative: (Colombia, : (Colombia, Peru until recently, Mexico, Chile Peru until recently, Mexico, Chile again, Honduras after the coup)again, Honduras after the coup)
• Social liberalSocial liberal (latin american social (latin american social democracy): Argentine, Chile democracy): Argentine, Chile (Bachelet), Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, (Bachelet), Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Nicaragua, El SalvadorUruguay, Nicaragua, El Salvador
• Socialist tendency, revolutionary Socialist tendency, revolutionary situation:situation: Bolivia, Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Venezuela,
Imperialism as a current Imperialism as a current issue issue
• CubaCuba• HaitiHaiti• HondurasHonduras• ColombiaColombia• EcuadorEcuador• Puerto Rico (colony of the U.S.A.)Puerto Rico (colony of the U.S.A.)• Suriname (former Dutch colony)Suriname (former Dutch colony)• Dutch and French Antilles (colonies)Dutch and French Antilles (colonies)
Anti imperialist answersAnti imperialist answersAgainst hegemony Against hegemony
• Capitalist integration (Mercosur, Capitalist integration (Mercosur, Banco del Sur, UNASUR)Banco del Sur, UNASUR)
• Post-neoliberal integration (ALBA)Post-neoliberal integration (ALBA)
• Decomposition of the OEADecomposition of the OEA
• CELACCELAC
• TelesurTelesur
• Capitalism of the State, neo-Capitalism of the State, neo-structuralism, Control of the Marketstructuralism, Control of the Market
ContradictionsContradictions
• Indigenous protests in Bolivia and Indigenous protests in Bolivia and EcuadorEcuador
•Abolition of unions in EAS/ Abolition of unions in EAS/ cooperatives in Venezuela cooperatives in Venezuela
•Religious influences against Religious influences against women/ homophobia in Nicaraguawomen/ homophobia in Nicaragua
Cuba after the sixth congress Cuba after the sixth congress of the CCPof the CCP
• Socialist?Socialist?
• State Capitalism?State Capitalism?
• Degenerating workers State?Degenerating workers State?
• Market Socialism?Market Socialism?
• Transition to Socialism?Transition to Socialism?
SourcesSources
• http://http://rebelion.orgrebelion.org
• http://http://telesurtv.nettelesurtv.net
• http://http://aporrea.orgaporrea.org
• http://katz.lahaine.org/http://katz.lahaine.org/
Questions proposed, Questions proposed, suggestions for the discussionsuggestions for the discussion
• Theoretical consequences of the Theoretical consequences of the rejection of Eurocentrism?rejection of Eurocentrism?
• Lessons of the autonomous Lessons of the autonomous experience (in particular for the experience (in particular for the revolts in the Middle East, North Africa revolts in the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean and the and the Mediterranean and the “Spanish Revolution”)? “Spanish Revolution”)?
• Role of revolutionary socialists in the Role of revolutionary socialists in the process of change at the level of the process of change at the level of the State and at the regional level?State and at the regional level?
