more nationalisation in venezuela

[REDSOX]

The largest remaining private sector steel company in venezuela (SIDETUR) was nationalised yesterday by hugo chavez. Check out http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69U2D120101031

[Patchd]

What do you think this means for Venezuela?

[REDSOX]

It means that the bourgeoisie and the multinationals are losing their power and strength bit by bit in Venezuela. Chavez also nationalised six construction firms as well on sunday.

[B0LSHEVIK]

It means that the bourgeoisie and the multinationals are losing their power and strength bit by bit in Venezuela. Chavez also nationalised six construction firms as well on sunday.


Correct on the multinationals capitalist parasites. But do you not believe a new bourgeois is being created in Venezuela? A new 'owning' class. Despite many of Chavez's accomplishments, Venezuela is in trouble, mainly for economic reasons beyond Chavez's control, but nontheless, Venezuela is still a democracy, and working class disillusionment (take the US for example) easily onsets itself.

[REDSOX]

Dont be so negative mate. We are fucking winning in latin america unlike elsewhere. Cheer up:)

[RadioRaheem84]

I hope so, comrade. I hope so.

There was an explosion of a new owning class by bureaucrats and soc dems within the PSUV but that is dwindling as Chavez is reigning them in.

Overall, I think the ruling class is going to have to strengthen themselves if they want to match Chavez's proposals and I am sure they will.

Let's hope the best for Chavez and Venezuela.

[el_chavista]

It's all about anti-imperialism: the main contradiction between the national interests of a backward third world country against the interests of the international capital and its local bourgeois allies.

[Barry Lyndon]

Now its a question of how long the ultra-left trolls will take to find this thread and derail it with long sectarian articles about how its not 'real socialism'.

[pastradamus]

I welcome such moves by Chavez. I believe he's sending a very clear message to the Elite establishment. This will benefit the working class -clearly. As it will now allow worker wages to increase massively due to a re-distribution of profit.

Bottom line is - Chavez isn't one of the most popular leaders in Latin American history for doing nothing.

[Nolan]

Good for Chavez.

[REDSOX]

What i would like to see next to finish this the only way it can be finished successfully

1. Nationalisation of the remaining banks insurance and finance companies like Banco mercantil, Banco credito BBVA etc
2. Nationalisation of the Polar food company(the equivalent of Wal mart in usa and Tesco in uk)
3. Nationalisation of all land over 73 hectares
4. Nationalisation of the remainin industrial monopolies
5. State monopoly on trade and state control of all prices(not wages)
5. Workers and peasents control and power in society
6. A planned economy in which 90% of the economy is state owned under workers self management

Then we can really smile

In the mean time Mr chavez keep going leftwards if not the masses should keep up the pressure

[Barry Lyndon]

What i would like to see next to finish this the only way it can be finished successfully

1. Nationalisation of the remaining banks insurance and finance companies like Banco mercantil, Banco credito BBVA etc
2. Nationalisation of the Polar food company(the equivalent of Wal mart in usa and Tesco in uk)
3. Nationalisation of all land over 73 hectares
4. Nationalisation of the remainin industrial monopolies
5. State monopoly on trade and state control of all prices(not wages)
5. Workers and peasents control and power in society
6. A planned economy in which 90% of the economy is state owned under workers self management

Then we can really smile

In the mean time Mr chavez keep going leftwards if not the masses should keep up the pressure

7. Encourage the spread of revolution elsewhere in Latin America. Socialism cannot be built in one country alone, let's not repeat that mistake.

[REDSOX]

Of course Barry encourage the spread of socialism all over the world although i was being specific to Venezuela. But revolution must spread because to our cost we know what happens when it does not

[Axle]

Great, but is there a reason Chavez is just picking at private companies like this, instead of nationalizing whole industries?

[REDSOX]

Yes its called strategy

[pastradamus]

Great, but is there a reason Chavez is just picking at private companies like this, instead of nationalizing whole industries?

Yes, he's being smart about it. If all this was done at once there would be a massive right-wing backlash.

[The Vegan Marxist]

These nationalizations are a great move for Chavez, & I'm glad he's really putting in a lot more since the last election. He realizes he doesn't have much longer to remain leader, so he's going to really strike at the current private bourgeois corporations. Next is more worker control over industries. There's some now in Venezuela, but more needs to be implemented. Though strategy is needed, which is being applied. The working class are clearly on his side. If they weren't, we would've seen mass protests & strikes against the PSUV.

[Barry Lyndon]

These nationalizations are a great move for Chavez, & I'm glad he's really putting in a lot more since the last election. He realizes he doesn't have much longer to remain leader, so he's going to really strike at the current private bourgeois corporations. Next is more worker control over industries. There's some now in Venezuela, but more needs to be implemented. Though strategy is needed, which is being applied. The working class are clearly on his side. If they weren't, we would've seen mass protests & strikes against the PSUV.

Why do you say that? Do you think he is going to be assassinated? Or that he'll lose re-election?

[The Vegan Marxist]

Why do you say that? Do you think he is going to be assassinated? Or that he'll lose re-election?

I think the options are open on both. The possibilities are very real. Chavez needs to start really striking at the throats of the bourgeoisie.

[Sam_b]

We are fucking winning in latin america unlike elsewhere

Who is 'we'?

[RadioRaheem84]

I think he means the working class. On some level there seems to more gain than loss in comparison to the rest of the world which is experiencing roll back.

[Agnapostate]

Chavez was initially elected as a nationalist-populist head of state, but has been re-elected and retains majority support after declaring his socialist aims. Are there, however, any historical cases of an elected government in a capitalist country successfully managing an enduring transition to socialism? Is Chavez a pioneer in this respect?

[RadioRaheem84]

Could be.

Chavez has successfully maintained a longer position in power than most socialist/populist presidents in Latin America, that's for sure.

It's because the people, for the most part, are with him and the Bolivarian Revolution.

[The Grey Blur]

an article by alan woods of the international marxist tendency: http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/5750 (http://www.anonym.to/?http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/5750)

it's pretty long so i won't copy and paste it into this post but it is a good read. it is clearly a propaganda piece aimed at the average venezuelan worker rather than an inter-leftist intellectual piece but in my opinion that gives it an added clarity and lack of pretension. it explores some practical and pragmatic issues around the recent election and nationalisations and reaffirms the need for the nationalising of the banks and major monopolies under worker's control.

[pastradamus]

Could be.

Chavez has successfully maintained a longer position in power than most socialist/populist presidents in Latin America, that's for sure.

It's because the people, for the most part, are with him and the Bolivarian Revolution.

Absolutely Agreed. He's been very clever about this. We saw him start out as somewhat of a populist and then slowly transform into a socialist. When his support kept increasing he was able to enact more and more left wing ideas. His position as head of state in Venezuela is almost untouchable at the moment. Not only that, but he's maintained good relations with many countries in Latin America (excluding Columbia - the most staunchly right-wing state in south America) and has in many senses exported his "Bolivarian" Revolution throughout South America.

Though one thing Needs to be pointed out here and thats US foreign policy. We Currently see them Knees deep with Iraq and Afghanistan. As they are busy with these wars they wont allocate the funding to "fixing" south America as we saw during the Allende period (Allende was killed by the CIA as the Vietnam war was coming to a halt in september 1973, Vietnam ended in 1975 but troop withdrawls occured beforehand).

I believe that Latin American Leftists will face their biggest challenge and threat when the Iraq and Afghanistan wars eventually start coming to a halt and troop withdrawl's begin.

[pranabjyoti]

I believe that Latin American Leftists will face their biggest challenge and threat when the Iraq and Afghanistan wars eventually start coming to a halt and troop withdrawl's begin.
Actually, that will be great and I am sure that will start an worldwide uprising against capitalism. In such a scenario, I propose the Latin American progressives to make a front to fight US imperialism and call all progressive minded people to join in that front to fight US imperialism.
N.B, no need to mention that I myself (I am from India) would like very much to join that force and serve the revolution and people.

[Agnapostate]

He's not the first head of state to assume power on a nationalist-populist platform and ultimately implement or attempt to implement socialist aims (Fidel Castro, of course, declared his Leninism in 1961 despite the fact that he had Leninist connections even prior to the Moncada barracks attack eight years earlier), but he does seem to be a pioneer, as I said. Are there any examples of any political force assuming governorship by electoral means and enacting socialism? If so, did they establish their intentions to do so from the beginning?

[Comrade Gwydion]

These nationalizations are a great move for Chavez, & I'm glad he's really putting in a lot more since the last election. He realizes he doesn't have much longer to remain leader, so he's going to really strike at the current private bourgeois corporations. Next is more worker control over industries. There's some now in Venezuela, but more needs to be implemented. Though strategy is needed, which is being applied. The working class are clearly on his side. If they weren't, we would've seen mass protests & strikes against the PSUV.

I'm a Chavista, but you do know that you've just given the definition for the fascist concept of Volkswille?
'If they didn't agree with us, they would've overthrown us allready'

[REDSOX]

I think he means the working class. On some level there seems to more gain than loss in comparison to the rest of the world which is experiencing roll back.

I do mean the working class of course workers peasents students etc and we are winning or at least are on the offensive unlike sadly most other parts of the world

[pranabjyoti]

7. Encourage the spread of revolution elsewhere in Latin America. Socialism cannot be built in one country alone, let's not repeat that mistake.
You are right, but why just LATIN AMERICA? And do you think that the Venezuelan model can be followed everywhere? There is no possibility of any kind of armed uprising anywhere in Latin America now? This are very important question regarding the spreading of revolutionary process in Latin America and we should find some answers to these questions.

[RadioRaheem84]

How about helping Cuba rebuild itself and trade will follow?

I am surprised Venezuela hasn't pumped massive investment and aid into Cuba to get trade going.

China and Venezuelan relations are supposed to be sound. Iranian relations too, although the embargo is hurting them.

Point is, Venezuela doesn't have many trading partners, except in oil and the Western Nations are furious about that. They want that damn oil as that has been the major bank roller for the Bolivarian Revolution.

What is needed is for the revolution to spread.

[pranabjyoti]

How about helping Cuba rebuild itself and trade will follow?

I am surprised Venezuela hasn't pumped massive investment and aid into Cuba to get trade going.

China and Venezuelan relations are supposed to be sound. Iranian relations too, although the embargo is hurting them.

Point is, Venezuela doesn't have many trading partners, except in oil and the Western Nations are furious about that. They want that damn oil as that has been the major bank roller for the Bolivarian Revolution.

What is needed is for the revolution to spread.
At present, I can suggest one. The Venezuelan authority can appeal to the people of the world for help and support. I have written a blog regarding this matter in revleft at http://www.revleft.com/vb/blog.php?b=562.

[People's War]

Socialism in one country wasn't a 'mistake', it was neccesary to develop the USSR and defend against reactionary forces, such as those who invaded in 1941. If the USSR had pursued an aggressive revolutionary policy, the forces of the West would have united against it. Some countries aren't ready for socialism, because they are in earlier stages of capitalism or even earlier epochs (feudalism).

With that important point out of the way, this is good news. The expansion of social democracy in Latin America and the rollback of US imperialism in the area is a great victory.

[B0LSHEVIK]

Socialism in one country wasn't a 'mistake', it was neccesary to develop the USSR and defend against reactionary forces, such as those who invaded in 1941. If the USSR had pursued an aggressive revolutionary policy, the forces of the West would have united against it. Some countries aren't ready for socialism, because they are in earlier stages of capitalism or even earlier epochs (feudalism).

With that important point out of the way, this is good news. The expansion of social democracy in Latin America and the rollback of US imperialism in the area is a great victory.


I agree that the overall 'progressive' trend in Latin America is a positive thing to witness. I am concerned with US meddeling however. Take for example Honduras. The world did not raise but a finger to defend the elected government, and slowly with time, countries will open up relations with the 'junta.' It almost happened in Ecuador too, just last month. Luckily, it was suppressed. But I fear these coups will spread, again, as they did in last half of 20th century.

I dont think Venezuela should devolve into 'socialism in one country' idea. The circumstances facing Venezuela are not the same as those facing Russia in late 1920s. And besides the situation in Venezuela is very unstable. As far as were concerned, the proletarian class could all but abandon Chavez in the coming elections for president. Its a possibility.

[People's War]

I agree that the overall 'progressive' trend in Latin America is a positive thing to witness. I am concerned with US meddeling however. Take for example Honduras. The world did not raise but a finger to defend the elected government, and slowly with time, countries will open up relations with the 'junta.' It almost happened in Ecuador too, just last month. Luckily, it was suppressed. But I fear these coups will spread, again, as they did in last half of 20th century.

I dont think Venezuela should devolve into 'socialism in one country' idea. The circumstances facing Venezuela are not the same as those facing Russia in late 1920s. And besides the situation in Venezuela is very unstable. As far as were concerned, the proletarian class could all but abandon Chavez in the coming elections for president. Its a possibility.

With Latin America, there is great potential for a sort of domino effect of right wing governments being toppled or thrown out of power. Socialism in one country isn't a good idea in this circumstance.

[Ovi]

Great, but is there a reason Chavez is just picking at private companies like this, instead of nationalizing whole industries?
But then we wouldn't have 1000 threads on revleft on how Chavez nationalized yet another company.

[4 Leaf Clover]

Stalinism !

[REDSOX]

The venezuelan government also nationalised 2 other companies on saturday last. One was a transportation company and another was a textile factory. Check out the latest on a venezuelanalysis article about this news and another bit of news about occupations of gas bottling companies and a world bank report which says venezuela is a terrible place to do business.:) http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5771