From: Gerald_A_Levy@MSN.COM
Date: Mon May 02 2005 - 17:13:53 EDT
> For what it is worth, I see Chavez and Allende as quite different as > leaders. Hi Paul Z: Yes, I agree that Chavez is quite different from Allende. In addition to what you mentioned, I think that a noteworthy difference is that whereas Allende was a lifelong socialist who was a centrist leader of a coalition government, Chavez is someone whose politics are still evolving and being shaped by the class struggle. I think he might be more like an early (pre-communist but post-revolutionary) Castro. The Bolivaran Revolution in Venezuela, I think, is much more identified with Chavez personally than the Unidad Popular government was identified with the person of Allende. If it hadn't been Allende then UP would have found some other representative. A danger for the revolution in Venezuela, and especially for Chavez personally, is the extent to which people (both supporters and opponents) identify the revolution in Venezuela with Chavez. At a couple of demonstrations that I attended in NYC this was reflected in the slogan: "Chavez IS the People". (Michael: is this a popular slogan in Venezuela?) For the revolution to be extended, this attitude is going to have to be surpassed. I may be wrong but I think Chavez recognizes this. I'm not sure, though, if he has thought through a strategy to overcome it. In solidarity, Jerry
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