The implications of Marxist state theory and how they play out in Venezuela

by Steve Ellner

MR Online | October 25, 2017

An abridged version of this article was published in Historical Materialism, volume 25, no. 2, 2017, pages 29-62.

Hugo Chávez’s declaration of adherence to socialism in January 2005 set off a discussion within his movement and outside of it about the nature of the state in the transition from capitalist to socialist systems. Theories associated with Louis Althusser, Ralph Miliband and Nicos Poulantzas, which generated excitement in the 1960s and 1970s, then lost their appeal in the heyday of neoliberalism but have since rebounded¹, serve as foundation blocks to frame issues and understand the debate within the Chavista movement as well as the different paths and options currently under consideration. What makes the Venezuelan case insightful is that conditions in the nation for achieving socialism in a democratic setting were in some ways immensely more propitious than those facing the Eurocommunist movements that inspired and were inspired by Poulantzas. In fact, they were undoubtedly unmatched by any other country whose government has been truly committed to democratic socialism. These circumstances make the examination of Marxist state theories against the backdrop of Venezuelan events particularly compelling.

Nepal’s communist parties to merge ahead of elections

People’s World | October 26, 2017

A rally of supporters of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist. | CPN-UML

Nepal’s two main communist parties have agreed to merge ahead of elections later this year. The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) and the CPN-Maoist Centre signed a pact in Kathmandu on October 3, along with the much smaller New Force Party. They agreed to jointly contest two-stage elections to the new House of Representatives on November 26 and December 7, and announce their unification after that.

Timeline of the Great October Revolution

A Journal of People compilation

Between September 30 and October 12 [old style]

Lenin signs two applications stating his consent to stand for the Constituent Assembly as a nominee of the Northern Front of the army in the field and the Battle field.

October

Fraternization of Russian and German soldiers increases dramatically, and throughout the front mass mutiny’s occur in favor of elected officers. Trade union membership increases to nearly 2 million workers throughout Russia.

Art and Communism: Soviet Posters Against Racism and War

The visionary propaganda of the USSR’s skilled artists upheld social equality in contrast to racial hatred, colonialism and imperialism.

The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 ushered in the world’s first socialist state. Encompassing one-sixth of the world, the Soviet Union sought in its early days to bring about a global revolution against capitalism and imperialism, and openly declared its opposition to colonialism, racism and exploitation.

In order to advance toward the goal of world revolution, agitational propaganda, or agitprop was deployed as a means of conveying Marxist theory to the workers and oppressed of the world. Entire departments and agencies produced posters, cinema, poetry, music and literature for this purpose, and life in the socialist state was permeated with the striking motifs of agitprop artwork.

teleSUR takes a look at the iconic political posters of visionary Soviet artist and propagandist, Viktor B. Koretsky.

No to Fascism!

Cuba: The struggle against the blockade is a struggle for humanity

by  Livia Rodriguez Delis

Granma | October 26, 2017

Caracas.– Venezuela’s Minister of Communication and Information (Minci), Ernesto Villegas, stated that the struggle against the U.S. blockade imposed on Cuba for almost 60 years is also a struggle in defense of humanity.
“We feel as though it (the struggle) were our own, and when we say no more blockade against the noble homeland of Martí, of Maceo, Fidel and Raúl, we are also saying no more blockades against any other people on the Planet, and in particular, in Latin America,” stated Villegas in the National Library’s Hugo Chávez hall. 

Venezuelan Regional Elections: Why We Won?

by Elías Jaua Milano

teleSUR | October 25, 2017

Chavistas show their support for the Venezuelan government. | Photo: AVN

With this victory came independence, peace and dignity for Venezuela.

With more than 60 percent of voter turnout, the patriotic forces won 18 of 23 governorships, with 54 percent of the national vote. A victory “right down the line” as our Commandante Hugo Chavez would say. This victory has surprised those who have little confidence in the people that have grown and matured despite difficulties, just as our Liberator Simon Bolivar grew in the face of adversity.

India: After 100 Years of Peace-Land-Bread and 50 years of Naxalbari Peasant Struggle

Land Question: Where Do We Stand Now

by Sandeep Banerjee

Frontier | October 21, 2017

On the day our daytime and nighttime were equal (2017 Sept 22), during a march of All India Kisan Sangharsh Co-ordination Committee, Yogendra Yadav told us, “So, what we are witnessing is the beginning of something that can only be described as a peasant rebellion”[1]. What fuel his optimism are — outbursts of peasants’ movement in various part of the country in the last 12-14 months, and also, “Second, they are being run by different organisations, but the demands are actually common. Every single protest boils down to two demands: fair and remunerative price and complete loan waiver or freedom from debt. This de-facto common agenda has emerged in the formation of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Co-ordination Committee, bringing together more than 150 farmer organisations. So, there is a possibility.” And so the task as he visualizes is, “A lot of work needs to be done but if there was one opportunity for creating a nation-wide farmers’ struggle, today is that moment.”[2]

Why is the US at war in West Africa?

by Eddie Haywood

Pambazuka News | October 19, 2017

Reuters

Between 2006 and 2010 the deployment of US special forces troops in Africa increased by 300 per cent. From 2010 to 2017 the numbers of deployed troops exploded by nearly 2000 per cent, occupying more than 60 outposts tasked with carrying out over 100 missions at any given moment across the continent.

The October 4 killings of four US Green Berets in Niger has provided a rare glimpse into the far-reaching American military operations throughout the African continent which have been conducted almost entirely in secret.

Pentagon officials on Friday told reporters that the ambush was carried out by a self-radicalized group supposedly affiliated with ISIS. The Pentagon additionally admitted that at least 29 patrols similar to the one that was fatally ambushed have been carried out by American soldiers in Niger.