Latin America legacy

It is a pleasure for me to share with you some thoughts on the 160th anniversary year of the Manifesto of the Communist Party and its importance in the ongoing struggles in Latin America.

The revolt against US hegemony in Latin America in the opening years of the 21st century constitutes a defining historical moment. Latin America is reasserting its independence in an attempt to free itself from centuries of imperialist domination.

The seriousness of this threat to US power is increasingly drawing the attention of Washington.

The 21st century is likely to be known as the anti-imperialist century, marking a growing intolerance of the waning US empire.

Outweighing even the resistance to the US war machine in Iraq in this respect is the political shift to the left in Latin America, which is destabilising US rule in the Americas and offers a prophetic microcosm of what can be expected worldwide.

Latin America and, especially, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela are taking the heritage of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, along with their own political revolutionary leaders such as Simon Bolivar and Francisco Miranda, in order to fight for a new society with social justice, with peace and for socialism.

I have no doubt that the experiences of Latin America will be fruitful and their outcomes will help all peoples, all workers by hand and brain, to do everything in their power to intensify the struggle against capitalism in its old and new forms.

Latin America proves that the unforgettable work of Karl Marx has not lost its importance and contemporary urgency.

Although, after 1989, the end of history was announced, recent history in Venezuela and other Latin American countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Argentina and, finally, Paraguay demonstrates that dialectical and historical materialism is real and scientific in all countries and at all times.

On the other hand, socialism in Korea, Cuba, China, Laos and Vietnam continues. Its development under the inspiration of Karl Marx takes different forms but is a real demonstration that the anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist revolution also continues with great vitality in the 21st century.

Indeed, after 1989, not only were many parts of the world denied socialism but the overwhelming majority of human beings did not enjoy peace and security either.

Naturally, in these conditions, the presence of Communist and workers parties, besides other revolutionary and progressive organisations, is as necessary as before. On the other hand, the unity of all revolutionary forces is decisive for our anti-capitalist struggle.

And Latin America provides an important and successful example.

In Venezuela, we have begun the construction of an anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist alliance - namely, the new United Socialist Party, the Communist Party of Venezuela and other political organisations.

In Latin America as a whole, unity is also progressing. More and more countries are participating in the Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America (ALBA). Cuba and Venezuela were followed by Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua and, in the near future, they will be joined by Paraguay.

Historical reality tells us that the principles of Marxism are an essential requirement if humankind is to win the struggle against poverty and attain the goal of a better life for all, which can only be achieved in a socialist society free from the mistakes of the 20th century but drawing on its rich vein of experience.

As Latin Americans, we are happy that you have decided to focus on our region this year.

Capitalism denies the very essence of humanity and can drag many people who subsist in poor conditions down into hopelessness and despair.

Prior experiences tells us that revolutionary transformation will not happen mechanically.

It can only take place on the basis of conscious decisions sharing the Marxist understanding that capitalism constitutes a structural fault in human society. No society anywhere in the world can isolate itself from the negative consequences of capitalism without applying the theory and practice of Marx's teaching.

I am convinced that our contemporary working class, organised in Marxist parties, the historical indigenous movements and the new social movements, now has the potential to occupy the front ranks in the struggle to push back the frontiers of exploitation and social injustice, recognising the fact that capitalism constitutes a serious threat to the cohesion of human society.

Accordingly, in order to successfully push back the frontiers of capitalism, all of us need to implement the many lessons that we have received through the struggles of the peoples and working class of our countries and from revolutionaries such as Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, Simon Bolivar from Venezuela, Marti from Cuba, Mariategui from Peru, Sandino from Nicaragua and many others.

"So comrades, come rally

"And the last fight let us face

"The Internationale,

"Unites the human race."

Carolus Wimmer is international secretary of the Communist Party of Venezuela. This is an edited version of the Marx Memorial Lecture that he delivered on Sunday at Highgate Cemetery. Dr Wimmer will be speaking at 7pm on Wednesday May 14 at Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way, London W1T as a guest of Venezuela Information Centre.