Civilizar. Ciencias Sociales y Humanas ISSN: 1657-8953 [email protected] Universidad Sergio Arboleda Colombia Ramírez Montañez, Julio The XXI century socialism in the context of the new Latin American left Civilizar. Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, vol. 17, núm. 33, julio-diciembre, 2017, pp. 97- 112 Universidad Sergio Arboleda Bogotá, Colombia Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=100254730006 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Civilizar Ciencias Sociales y Humanas 17 (33): 97-112, Julio-Diciembre de 2017 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22518/16578953.902 The XXI century socialism in the context of the new Latin American left1 El socialismo del siglo XXI en el contexto de la nueva izquierda latinoamericana Recibido: 27 de juniol de 2016 - Revisado: 10 de febrero de 2017 – Aceptado: 10 de marzo de 2017. Julio Ramírez Montañez2 Abstract The main purpose of this paper is to present an analytical approach of the self- proclaimed “new socialism of the XXI Century” in the context of the transformations undertaken by the so-called “Bolivarian revolution”.The reforms undertaken by referring to the ideology of XXI century socialism in these countries were characterized by an intensification of the process of transformation of the state structure and the relations between the state and society, continuing with the nationalization of sectors of the economy, the centralizing of the political apparatus of State administration. However, in the last four years, in some countries where the socialism of the XXI Century has been implemented, the civilian population has been demonstrating against this type of regime. Keywords Socialism of the XXI century, the new Latin American left, Chavez’s regime. Resumen El objetivo principal de este trabajo es presentar un enfoque analítico del autoproclamado "nuevo socialismo del siglo XXI" en el contexto de las transformaciones emprendidas 1 Artículo resultado del proyecto de por la llamada "revolución bolivariana". Las reformas emprendidas al referirse a investigación “El Socialismo del Si- la ideología del socialismo del siglo XXI en estos países se caracterizó por una glo XXI en el Contexto de la Nueva intensificación del proceso de transformación de la estructura estatal y las relaciones Izquierda Latinoamericana”. Univer- entre el Estado y la sociedad, continuando con la nacionalización de sectores de la sidad Pontificia Bolivariana Seccio- nal Bucaramanga. economía, la centralización del aparato político de la administración del Estado. Sin 2 Profesional de las relaciones in- embargo, en los últimos cuatro años, en algunos países donde se ha implementado el ternacionales. Master en Relaciones socialismo del siglo XXI, la población civil se ha estado manifestando en contra de este Internacionales. De la Universidad tipo de régimen. del Flinders de Adelaida en Australia. Profesor de la Facultad de Adminis- tración de Negocios Internacionales. Palabras calve La Universidad Pontificia Bolivaria- Socialismo del siglo XXI, la nueva izquierda latinoamericana, el régimen de Chávez. na, (Bucaramanga, Colombia) Direc- tor del Grupo de Investigación de la Facultad de Administración de Ne- gocios Internacionales (GRICANI). Correo electrónico: julio.ramirez@ upb.edu.co Para citar este artículo use: Ramírez, J. (2017). The XXI century socialism in the context of the new Latin American left. Civilizar Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, 17(33), 97-112. doi: 10.22518/16578953.902 98 JULIO RAMÍREZ MONTAÑEZ Introduction Socialism of the XXI century “Totalitarianism is the new word The initial part of this article aims to that we have adopted to describe the clarify the concept of socialism of the XXI unexpected but inseparable manifestations of century, its theoretical interpretation and its which in theory we call differentiation with the socialism developed socialism”. in Eastern Europe in the second half of the Friedrich Hayek. twentieth century. The aim of this article is to present an Hamburger (2014) argues that the analysis of the political ideology called socialism term socialism of the XXI century has been used of the XXI century and its implementation in in relation to the process that took place in the Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador and Bolivia. In last two decades in the Bolivarian Republic order to comply with the main purpose, the first of Venezuela and whose term was coined by part of the document provides an overview of some Hugo Chavez Frias to differentiate it from concepts developed by the theory of XXI century the so-called “real socialism” of the twentieth socialism and some factors that differentiate it century in the Soviet Union and the countries from the socialism that was developed in Eastern of Eastern Europe. This author contends that Europe in the second half of the twentieth the main lesson of the Chavista project was the century. need and importance of combined socialism with democracy, not a liberal democracy, but a In the second part, the article examines participatory and direct democracy. a perspective of the nonconformity of the so-called New Latin American left, we It is important to note that in its take into consideration the specific case beginnings, the socialism of the XXI century of Venezuela during the presidential mandates counted as its main ideologist with Heinz of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro which Dieterich Steffan who has been considered were characterized by an authoritarian and by many authors as the “Power in the shade” populist regime; likewise in Argentina during during the first governments of Hugo Chavez. the corrupt governments of Nestor Kirchner (Mujica & Rincón, 2008). and Cristina Fernandez, in Ecuador under the populist regime of Rafael Correa where he has Dieterich served as advisor to the obtained some robust economic performance Presidency of Venezuela and his proposal was but has worn out in a constant dispute with called “The New Historical Project: Democracy the media and opponents, and in Bolivia under of the twenty-first Century” which revolved mainly around two fundamental axis: the the command of Evo Morales waving flags economy of the equivalences and direct of authoritarianism and the movement of democracy (Mujica & Rincón, 2008). Indigenism. In regard to the first axis of the economy Finally, the article focuses its attention of the equivalences, Mujica & Rincón (2008) on reviewing the aspects where it is considered indicate that Dieterich is based on the Marxist that this model has failed by using some analysis theory of the work value and the exchange of factors as reference such as corruption, the equivalents, from which new relations of pro- violation of the freedom of expression, the duction and of property are built with the means disrespect of private property and the disregard of production. This field seeks to gradually re- of the rights of political minorities. place the regulating principle of the market Civilizar Ciencias Sociales y Humanas 17 (33): 97-112, Julio-Diciembre de 2017 THE XXI CENTURY SOCIALISM IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEW LATIN AMERICAN LEFT 99 economy which is the price, by the regulating entitled Beyond the left and the right. The future principle of the socialist economy represented of radical policies in which he summarizes in the value, understood as the inputs of time the main aspects of the twenty-first century necessary for the generation of a product (Mujica socialism in six key points: & Rincón, 2008). 1. The twenty-first century socialism in The second axis of the proposal of Dieterich theory should deliver the constituent power to is the direct democracy; this axis presents its depository in a real and effective way, i.e. a criticism of capitalist society, affirming that people become conscious and organized. the political rights of representative democracy -- are a bourgeois formality and that such 2. For the twenty-first century socia- representativeness is a myth; however, it would lism the institutions have values. And within be necessary, but not sufficient, to the democratic the institutions, those that allow free commu- society of the future (Mujica & Rincón, 2008). nication are of great importance (mainly, the alternative media and the deliberative forms of Similarly, Dieterich says that the division democracy). of powers is the basis of the State of bourgeois right and the only contribution of it to advance 3. The individual self-government is in the political coexistence. So it is assumed that linked to the social self-determination. For the formal mechanisms - division of powers, the twenty-first century socialism, citizenship constitution, electoral system, parliament, fede- must be constantly activating its condition of rative structure of the State, the media, access to ‘constituent power’. private property, the rule of law, public-private dichotomy - have suffered a reversal or neutra- 4. Must have open mechanisms of collec- lization by the dominant elites that they con- tive deliberation and decision, so that solving verted into simple theorems (Mujica & Rincón, the problems is a matter of public opinion, it is 2008). more difficult for people to pursue their indivi- dual self-interest. This socialism of the XXI century accor- ding to Dieterich will be materialized in three 5. Equality must be regarded as a signi- stages: ficant