THE LEFT in GOVERNMENT Latin America and Europe Compared
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stiftß0976ß09765 43#+q wertztü äölkkjhgfdssss ayxcvccsscvbm,.--- THE LEFT IN GOVERNMENT Latin America and Europe Compared Ed. Birgit Daiber Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Brussels www.rosalux-europa.info CONTENT Introduction Birgit Daiber and Roland Kulke ................................................. 7 Is Socialist Politics Possible from a Position in Government? Five Objections by Rosa Luxemburg and Five Offers for a Discussion Michael Brie, Germany ............................................................. 21 The Crisis of Capitalism and Post-Capitalist Horizons Pedro Páez Pérez, Ecuador ...................................................... 35 The Different Strategies of Left Movements in Latin America Valter Pomar, Brazil .................................................................. 47 The Italian Case: A Point of View Luciana Castellina, Italy ............................................................ 65 The Left in Government, the Crisis of Capitalism and Post- Neoliberalism: Challenges and Political Perspectives for the Implementation of a New Model of Socio-Economic Birgit Daiber Ed.: The Left in Government Development in Brazil Latin America and Europe Compared Iole Ilíada, Brazil ........................................................................ 75 First published 2010 by Rosa Luxemburg Foundation To be in Office, but not in Power: Left Parties Ave. Michel-Ange 11, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Email: [email protected] in the Squeeze between Peoples’ Expectations and Web: www.rosalux-europa.info an Unfavourable Balance of Power Asbjørn Wahl, Norway ............................................................. 85 © Birgit Daiber Redaction: Marlis Gensler The Paraguayan Left and the Challenges Translation: Phil Hill of the New Government Layout: Edition Lit.europe, Berlin Printed and bound by Lowtec gGmbH Berlin Rocío Casco, Paraguay ............................................................. 95 2 3 A National Project of the Left: The Political Experience The Left in Government: of the FMLN Elements of the Programme to Continue the Change Carlos Castañeda Magaña, El Salvador .................................. 105 Graciela García Vera, Uruguay ................................................ 173 What to Do when Hope defeats Fear? Left Unity and Struggle for a New Programme of Change: The Historic Election Victory of the Salvadoran Left Peculiarities of the Brazilian Situation Ernesto Zelayandia, El Salvador ............................................. 113 José Reinaldo Carvalho, Brazil ............................................... 183 Changing Politics our Way: Neoliberalism in Chile and Challenges for Left Governance Projects and Experiences in a Red-Red Coalition Carlos Arrue, Chile ................................................................. 193 Stefan Liebich, Germany ........................................................ 123 The Strength to Chance the Financial Left-wing Governments in France and Economic Structures: Some Key Elements and the Challenge of Hegemony to Change the Power Balance Elisabeth Gauthier, France ...................................................... 133 Francisco Contreras, Sweden ................................................ 205 The Left in Government: Anticipating the Bolivarian Socialism Cultural and Political Dimension of the Current Changes Héctor Rodríguez Castro, Venezuela ...................................... 211 Lilián Celiberti, Uruguay .......................................................... 139 Responses of Venezuela’s Rentier Socialism to the The Left in Government: The Experience of Cyprus Recent Decline of International Oil Prices Ioannis Colocasides, Cyprus .................................................... 149 Margarita López Maya & Luis E. Lander, Venezuela .............. 221 The Left: Administrator of Crisis The Red-Green Government of Norway and or Promoter of Structural Reforms? the Alliances with Unions and Social Movements Germán Rodas Chaves, Ecuador ............................................ 157 Dag Seierstad, Norway ........................................................... 241 Changing Relations between Party Hydropower Sovereignty in Paraguay and Non-Parliamentary Organisations: José Pineda, Paraguay ............................................................ 251 The Example of Mecklenburg-Hither Pommerania Steffen Bockhahn, Germany .................................................. 167 Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................. 259 Authors .................................................................................. 263 4 5 INTRODUCTION BIRGIT DAIBER AND ROLAND KULKE Since the late nineties, left forces have taken over government respon- sibility in a growing number of countries in Latin America; in Europe too, the left has participated in governing coalitions. An evaluation of whether government participation has been successful or not should be based on whether the left has been able to achieve structural changes effective beyond the short term of government participation, and whether it has been able to enlarge its social base. On the basis of these criteria, the participation of the left in governments will have to be assessed very differently. On the other hand, during the world crisis, the left faces the challenge of using the opportunity to fight for the fulfilment of a just internation- al society. The effects of the crisis are threatening the conditions of life of the people in east and west, north and south, and only by a radical reversal of the neoliberal domination of the market over the social con- ditions of life will it be possible to safeguard the possibilities for devel- opment. Is the left able to not only provide a profound analysis of the world crisis, but also to develop concrete concepts for action? And are there key elements in the necessarily regionally differentiated con- cepts which can be interconnected worldwide? At issue at the strategic level is the formation of broad societal and political alliances across the boundaries of issues and of territories. Transnational cooperation between the left in the different world re- gions is of great importance in that regard. Particularly the success of the left movements in Latin America has an inspiring effect on the European left, encouraging them to consistently oppose the neoliberal and imperialistic world order. It is thus important for us to carry on a continuous dialogue with the left in Latin America. The conference “The Left in Government: A Strategic Project?” brought together political activists and intellectuals from many countries of Latin America and Europe, to address primarily four issues: 7 What are the basic conditions for left participation in government? The challenge for the left today is to develop as a counter-hegemonial transformational force, and to use the open situation created by the cri- Which political, cultural and especially societal forces can the left sis as an opportunity. This involves three steps: a development path for call upon, and how can it strengthen them with respect to building higher productivity in the unity a social, ecological and economic pro- counter-hegemony? ductivity, alliances between workers and the middle classes, and third- Which are the key projects for the left in government? ly changes in the social relations of political forces. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. And the capability for socie- Which challenges have arisen from the world crisis, and how can tal change is proven in practice, i.e. the decisive factor for the success the left use the crisis to effect social change? of the left in government is participation in concrete projects. Summarising, Michael Brie noted that the participation of the left in gov- In his introduction, Michael Brie quoted Rosa Luxemburg, who cited five ernment is both a question of principle and a concrete problem under reasons why the left should not participate in bourgeois governments: very concrete conditions. Coalitions including the left are usually made when there is a crisis, and dangerous developments threaten. The ba- Capitalism cannot be changed; only abolished. sic conditions for government participation have been established by Only a revolution can solve the fundamental problems. neo-liberalism, and are not easily changed. The left must thus frequent- ly pursue crisis management in government, while at the same time The state is only an instrument of the economically ruling class. creating its own prerequisites for successfully introducing lasting change. Government participation weakens the left. Michael Brie concluded with a quote from Confucius: “By three meth- ods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; sec- By its participation in government, the left makes the continuation ond, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is of reactionary policy possible. the bitterest.” However, he stated, conditions today are different. Today, we have not Arguments of the comrades from Latin America one single capitalism, but rather variously constituted capitalisms. And in today’s differentiated societies, the struggle is carried out between Valter Pomar: The Latin American left has had great success; however, the interests of capital and those of solidarity, within the capitalist sys- its theoretical work is lagging behind its practice. All in all, we have to tem. It thus seems possible to achieve a defeat of the capitalist accu- stop categorising