Episode 5: Venezuela and the Imperialist Hypocrites

02/03/19 • 66 min

In this episode of On Mass, I briefly explain why I haven't released any episodes in the past little bit, as well as provide my take on Venezuela and America's recent attempt to oust the Maduro government in the classic capitalist-imperialist way. I also explain why I think the Leftist government of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has been struggling with its internal class contradictions since they assumed power in 1999. The first half of the episode gives a brief overview of some of the internal class contradictions at play, and the latter looks at the false and hypocritical imperialist rhetoric that is being spouted in order to overthrow the Leftist government of Venezuela. This episode is a brief explanation of some of the dynamics at play in the conflict and is by no means a completely comprehensive analysis of the situation.

Some Sources:
The bourgeois critique of the Venezuelan government mentioned in the second half of the episode:
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/post-chavez-venezuela-enters-downward-spiral/

Norway Reinvesting in BAE Systems:
https://www.regjeringen.no/globalassets/upload/fin/etikk/2013/bae_finmec_eng.pdf

BAE Systems Products/Services: https://www.baesystems.com/en/what-we-do/products-and-services

Previous Episode

Episode 4: The China Question

In this episode of On Mass I expand my argument in regards to whether China is a socialist country or a capitalist-imperialist country in the present day. I begin by conceptualizing how we should think about socialism, and then move towards giving a brief account of how China developed after it's revolution in 1949 with an emphasis on the Cultural Revolution's attempt to correct problems that developed in most socialist countries as they pertained to the transition to socialism on the level of economics, culture, ideology, and politics. For this argument I focused on the question of whether China is capitalist and briefly discussed its imperialistic elements, but didn't go into detail in regards to imperialism as a concept. A concept we'll revisit in the near future. References

Charles Bettelheim - Cultural Revolution and Industrial Organization in China: Changes in Management and the Division of Labor (http://www.marx2mao.com/Other/CRIOC74.html)

Charles Bettelheim - Class Struggles in the USSR

Deng Yuan Hsu & Pao Yu Ching - Rethinking Socialism (http://www.marx2mao.com/Other/WIST.html)

Xi Jingping - Governance of China (p. 114 of PDF version)

Lenin - State and Revolution (For understanding of socialism as transitional phase and the role of the state)

Lenin - The New Economic Policy And The Tasks Of The Political Education Departments (https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1921/oct/17.htm)

Mao - Communes Are Better (https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-8/mswv8_13.htm)

Mao - On State Capitalism (http://www.marx2mao.com/Mao/OSC53.html)

China in Africa Podcast - https://www.chinaafricaproject.com/podcast-africa-ethiopia-hawassa-inustrial-park-william-levison/ and https://www.chinaafricaproject.com/china-africa-belt-road-aging-population-lauren-johnston/

Rev Left Radio - https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/in-defense-of-china-as-a-socialist-state-w-ajit-singh and https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/on-mass-maoism-hip-hop-black-panther

Next Episode

Episode 6: Social Democracy, Opportunism and Richard D. Wolff

In this episode of On Mass, comrade Peter Clark and I discuss social democracy (or democratic "socialism") as a political tendency in relation to the reality of capitalist-imperialist exploitation.

We also discuss the ideas of Professor Richard D. Wolff who is the host of the leftist show Economic Update and how his ideas factor into the general topics of social democracy, opportunism and reformism.