From: Gerald_A_Levy@MSN.COM
Date: Thu May 12 2005 - 08:55:51 EDT
> Do you support the arguments that John H. made in his book? > I regard them as erroneous, a very negative political influence > and as demonstrably refuted by events in Venezuela. Michael L, Do I agree with _all_ of the arguments in his book? No. But, I am sympathetic to many of his claims, especially as they relate to the need to struggle against and surpass authoritarian forms of organization and develop new forms of social organization, including the construction (where possible) of autonomous anti-capitalist spaces. I also agree with him that capital and the state are linked to each other and that, as a consequence, there must be struggles against both capital and the state. I don't agree that events in Venezuela have "demonstrably refuted" his argument. To begin with (as you have emphasized), events in Venezuela are rapidly changing and complex. I think the jury is still out about what the events there have demonstrated or "refuted". I am also leery about drawing conclusions regarding a social perspective on struggle based on only 1 historical experience: the struggle in Venezuela might be, in some significant ways, an exceptional case. To claim therefore that John's perspective has been refuted by events in Venezuela makes about as much sense to me now as a claim that events in Hungary in March, 1919 "refuted" Marx's proposition that the bourgeoisie will not voluntarily and peacefully hand-over power to the working class. As you know, I have been supportive of the Bolivarian Revolution. But, I think there are dangers which need to be discussed, confronted and overcome. One such danger that I mentioned previously is the extent to which for many the revolution has become identified with Chavez. You will recall what I told you about the (professionally printed and expensive color) placards which read: "CHAVEZ _IS_ THE PEOPLE!". To repeat a question that I asked you before (in a post on May 2): is this a popular slogan in Venezuela? Another point: I think that the way in which much of the Left has addressed this question -- by counter-posing the experience of the Bolivarian revolutionary process in Venezuela to the struggles of Zapatistas in Chiapas -- is dangerous and divisive. Both movements are under attack by imperialism; neither one represents a universal "model" for revolutionary change which should be uncritically adopted in all other nations; both movements should be supported. When John says (to paraphrase) that he will go to Venezuela, in large part, to listen and to learn, I think he should be commended. In solidarity, Jerry
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