Reinaldo Iturriza is a Venezuelan sociologist, writer and political activist. In the early years of Nicolás Maduro’s presidency, he served as Minister of Communes between 2013–14 and then Minister of Culture until 2016. Since then, he has worked on grassroots intellectual and political education, creating the Centre for Studies for Socialist Democracy (CEDES) to support the complex and turbulent process of popular organisation in Venezuela.
Always insightful in discussing the trajectory of the Bolivarian Revolution, Iturriza does not shy from criticising a process that, he argues, has suffered over the past decade as “democratic life deteriorated and we saw a progressive weakening of the political class and its respective social bases.” He describes the January 3 US aggression, which culminated in the kidnapping of Maduro and National Assembly deputy Cilia Flores, as an “invasion”. Iturriza also points out that it makes no sense to talk of “treason or loyalty” when it comes to acting president Delcy Rodríguez’s government and the conditions imposed on it by Washington. From his perspective, [the government] has carried out a “full-scale strategic retreat.” Iturriza also develops his concept of “political disaffiliation” from Chavismo, and challenges the prevailing narrative about polarisation in his country. He also discusses the state of the communes and organisations of popular power. Finally, Iturriza says “it is essential to create an effective narrative of the Bolivarian Revolution” that points out errors and limitations, but also “gives due credit” to its successes. “Our program was certainly suited to its time, consistent with our political culture, and successfully created a high-intensity democracy,” he argues. Read the interview at https://links.org.au/venezuela-times-retreat-priority-should-be-preparing-counteroffensive -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#41346): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/41346 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/118687342/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/13617172/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
