Venezuela: Over 100 listen to Alan Woods speaking on Reformism or Revolution in the National Library in Caracas

Alan Woods kicked off his latest speaking tour of Venezuela at a meeting in Central Caracas where he presented his book Reformism or Revolution. The workers and youth present showed keen interest in the ideas of revolutionary socialism, as Alan answered their questions on the possibility of revolution and how to combat bureaucracy.

On Friday November 13, more than 100 people gathered in Venezuela’s National Library located in Central Caracas to hear Alan Woods speak on his book Reformism or Revolution. This level of attendance was especially significant if you take into account the fact that a demonstration had been called for the same hour by the PSUV the day before and that president Chávez had decided to appear at this rally and thus many people were obviously on the streets to join this protest. Nonetheless the meeting of Alan Woods went ahead as planned and as the PSUV demo came to an end, the meeting hall in the National Library filled to near maximum capacity.

The meeting was introduced by Leonardo Badell, member of the CMR leadership, who explained the importance of the book and of this particular discussion in the context of the Venezuelan revolution and the upcoming PSUV congress. After his introduction, a comrade from the Trade Union of the workers at the National Library spoke. He explained how this was a joint meeting between the CMR and his trade union and that he was very keen on the need to strengthen the ideological debate in order to arm the vanguard of the Bolivarian Movement with Socialist ideas.

Alan started his speech with the following remark, “Comrades, 2009 is a year of many anniversaries. It is the 90^th anniversary of the murder of Rosa Luxemburg. It is also the 220^th anniversary of the Great French Revolution… However, there is one anniversary that the bourgeoisie cannot forget… it is of course 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall... At that time the ruling class was euphoric. They spoke of the end of Socialism, the end of Communism and some even of the End of History. But what has happened to these predictions? 20 years later, there is not one stone left upon another of that euphoric propaganda. Capitalism finds itself in a deep crisis, millions have lost their jobs and the world is in a state of turmoil”.

Alan then went on to give a detailed explanation of the contents of his book Reformism or Revolution. Written in 2008 as a reply to the ideas of Heinz Dieterich, the book is in fact a reaffirmation of the most fundamental ideas of Marxism. Alan stressed that “We don't have to reinvent Marxism. There may be this or that detail which has to be corrected, but the fundamental ideas of Marxism are more relevant than ever before”.

In relation to Venezuela, Alan emphasized the need for action to combat the growth of the right wing and to prevent a mood of apathy setting in among the masses. He pointed out that as a Marxist he considered himself a modest man, who has no desire whatsoever to touch the property of individuals such as ordinary workers, small shopkeepers or poor peasants. “I believe that three things should be expropriated: the banks, the land of the latifundia and the big industries”. This received a big applause from the audience.

After Alan´s speech, there was a short debate and question session. Leonardo used the opportunity to present three candidates of the CMR in the PSUV delegate elections who were present in the meeting. One of them, comrade Odilio de Pablos, made an intervention where he congratulated Alan for the clarity of his speech and especially on the tasks facing the revolutionaries of Venezuela. Other people from within the audience intervened with questions for Alan. A female worker from Misión Cultura asked Alan how it is possible to combat bureaucracy.

Alan answered the questions, also quoting Lenin at length. He explained Lenin's four conditions for revolution, all of which exist in Venezuela today, bar the fourth, i.e. the subjective factor, the revolutionary leadership. That is something that has to be built within the Bolivarian movement. He also explained the classical Marxist position on bureaucracy, on the election of all officials with the right of recall, for officials not to earn more than a skilled worker. All this connected well with the audience who could appreciate how relevant all this is to their own experience.

The meeting was an important success which yet again confirms the keen interest for Marxist ideas among workers and youth in Venezuela. 44 people left their contact details to have discussions with the CMR and several copies of the new book were also sold and signed by the author.

Alan will now be going to the State of Barinas, where he is speaking at several assemblies of the PSUV. The speaking tour will go on for the next two weeks and is planned to cover 7 states: Caracas, Barinas, Portuguesa, Mérida, Bolívar, Maturín and Anzoátegui.