[Marxism] The Socialist Revolution in Venezuela

[Anthony Boynton]

What is happening in Venezuela today dos not match any socialist revolution of the past, certainly not the Russian Revolution.

Does this mean that there is no socialist revolution happening in Venezuela?

One persistent poster on this list, Paula, seems to think that since bourgeois institutions still exist, no revolution is in process. 

Personally I would advise Paula to look at the Russian revolution from February 1917 to October 1917. The first revolution had happened, the Czar was gone. The institutions of czarism remained, but were disintegrating under the impact of the deprivations of World War I. 

Venezuela is undergoing a social revolution in slow motion, under totally different world conditions, and totally different social conditions. The slow motion revolution however, includes the disintegration of the bourgeois institutions of Venezuela. This is exactly what is happening to the Venezuelan military now - it is dividing into two camps. 

Will the socialist revolution in Venezuela continue to advance? More to the point, on what side does Paula stand in relation to the concrete issues in the struggle today? 

Is she for passage of Chaves's Constitutional reforms, or is she against them?

In my opinion, the advance of the Venezuelan revolution today, in real flesh and blood terms, requires the passage of these reforms.

I hope Paula that you will take a position on something that matters, rather than making windy proclamations about things that no one on this list is talking about.

(While you are reading Lenin's State and Revolution, why don't you start reading the history of the Russian Revolution. You might start with Trotsky and Sukhanov. Pay attention to the process in the Czar's army, and then pay attention to the formation of the Red Army.)

Anthony





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