RE: [Marxism] Chavez embraces socialism (but not the old kind)

[Steve Gabosch <sgabosch@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

David McDonald argues against applying schematic and "normative"
definitions of previous socialist revolutions to future ones.  On the
contrary, David argues, one must understand that no two revolutions "unfold
in the same manner."  He explains:

> So, my point is that every revolution, and every upsurge leading to a
> revolution, begins with a specific set of circumstances that is unique in
> space and time, and it is therefore woodenheaded and wrong to suppose that
> things will unfold in the same manner as in Cuba, Eastern Europe, Russian
> in 1917 or the Paris Commune.

This point is well taken; certainly, no two revolutions can be expected to
unfold in the same manner.  But what can we generalize from the experiences
of socialist revolutions, both the ones that succeeded, as well as the ones
that failed?  David seems uncertain.  He points out:

> So far from it being correct to simply apply the measures taken by
> successful antecedents, I would say it is almost the definition of error
> to do so. I would cite Hungary and Portugal as obvious examples.

David may want to clarify his point, and describe what generalizations he
does think are possible from past experience - what he thinks Hungary and
Portugal reveal, as well what can be learned about how to make a revolution
from all revolutionary experiences since the Paris Commune.  What can we
learn from history about how to make socialist revolutions?

For my part, I think there are many things we can learn and generalize
about from all class struggle experiences, especially revolutions, but in
terms of the question of taking state power and consciously making a
socialist revolution - a question on the historic agenda of Venezuela given
the current high level of mobilization and class struggle consciousness of
its workers and oppressed - one of the most important generalizations of
all, and very applicable in Venezuela today, is the concept of the workers
and farmers government - what Marx called the dictatorship of the
proletariat, what Lenin advocated in his April Theses in 1917, what Castro
and Guevara led the creation of in 1959, what the Sandinistas lost in
1987-1990 (give or take), and what I believe must be aimed for and
accomplished in Venezuela to make it possible to abolish capitalism and
begin the construction of socialism.

- Steve Gabosch




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