Re: [Marxism] A Venezuelan explains: Just what is 21st-Century socialism?

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Walter wrote:
> 21st-Century socialism is not Marxist
>
> I don't know how many times Chávez has had to repeat it. He has been
> saying it since 2003. He has said it clearly in several remarks,
> speeches and television programs: ?This is not a Marxist project. I
> have many Marxist friends, but this is not a Marxist project.?
> (?Hello President? radio program, Oct. 2, 2005.) He even has told it
> to journalists in interviews and press conferences.
>
> ?I am not a communist. If I were, I would say so without hesitation.
> Had I had a Marxist project for Venezuela, I would have said so from
> the first day I stepped into the political arena. So, I am not a
> Marxist. I feel close to socialist and progressive thinking, but I am
> not a Marxist.? (Interview with CNN correspondent Lucía Newman, Aug.
> 18, 2004.)

I am all for Hugo Chavez, but this is just wrong. Or maybe it is just 
confused. If Karl Marx had never been born, there still would be a "Marxist 
project" in terms of the class nature of the state, the mode of production, 
the need for a planned economy, etc., etc.

At any rate, I guess I will have to get into more depth on this when I 
write about Michael Lebowitz's book. Which will happen after I deal with 
"state capitalism".

--

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