Evo Morales has finally assumed power in Bolivia today, raising hopes of eight million Bolivians (including 75% of Indian origin), who have bore the brunt of neoliberal policies the past fifteen years.
Prof Aijaz Ahmad, who currently is the Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Chair at Jamia Millia Islamia, and is a regular contributor to the Frontline, apart from being the author of "Iraq, Afghanistan and the Imperialism of our time" writes a eloquent two-part article on the significance of Morales' coming to power in Bolivia and what it means to the project of socialism that he has rhetorically embarked upon.
Prof Ahmad, answers in his article, the very questions that plagued my mind: a) Will Morales become a Chavez/ Castro or would he become a moderate like Lula in Brazil? b) What does Morales' coming to power mean : Is the US' hold over the South American continent waning? or doesn't the US consider doing an Allende on Chavez/ Morales an option anymore? c) What are the causes of the rise of the Left in Latin America and what is the forthcoming impact on the projects of neoliberalism that was thrust upon the continent as if it were a laboratory?
The most intriguing aspect of Prof Ahmad's article is his comment on the current ideological struggle on the strands of communism vs Trotskyism, as to what is the right path toward the transition to socialism. This made me ponder about what exactly was the role of resistance toward neo-liberalism in India itself and which ideological influence and strategy was more worthwhile and elaborate in achieving the requisite goal.
The CPI(M) meanwhile is holding 24rth of January as an "Anti-Imperialist Day", trying to sensitize Indian citizens against US imperialism; particularly profoundly seen in the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and the impending crisis of conflict in Iran, Syria and North Korea.
The important aspect of this particular event is the imperative to democratize foreign policy, in the sense that foreign policy is now being taken to the doors of the common citizens and debates are articulated as to what should India's approach be, to the forces of imperialism that prevail in the neo-liberal and the military senses. To personalise this thought, I was part of a group of volunteers who were asked to distribute pamphlets condemning American occupation in Iraq and its plans to engage in Iran and Syria in the forthcoming future. Myself and a friend were doing this in ITO, a busy road sector in New Delhi, and to our amusement, we found that the response of the common man was bewildered curiousity about the issue. Nevertheless, the process of democratizing foreign policy and not relegating it merely to a cabal of few mandarins and few newspaper analysts (strategic analysts to be precise), has begun.
In this context, a movie titled, "Z", was screened in JNU yesterday. The movie was about the collusion by the police, right wing fascists and the government in Greece in the murder of a leftist-liberal political leader campaigning for issues that included disarmament. The movie (which is in French) moves on a fast pace, and alludes to the influence of the USA as an instigator of the right wing conspiracy. I was immediately reminded by "JFK", where the unknown Black Ops military unit commander says the same thing about how the CIA toppled the Mohammed Mossadeh government in Iran and the entire Vietnam episode. I could correlate the movie with the multiple "coloured" revolutions taking place at Georgia and Ukraine, where popularly elected governments were removed by street demonstrations sponsored by American based organizations.
Prof Aijaz Ahmad, who currently is the Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Chair at Jamia Millia Islamia, and is a regular contributor to the Frontline, apart from being the author of "Iraq, Afghanistan and the Imperialism of our time" writes a eloquent two-part article on the significance of Morales' coming to power in Bolivia and what it means to the project of socialism that he has rhetorically embarked upon.
Prof Ahmad, answers in his article, the very questions that plagued my mind: a) Will Morales become a Chavez/ Castro or would he become a moderate like Lula in Brazil? b) What does Morales' coming to power mean : Is the US' hold over the South American continent waning? or doesn't the US consider doing an Allende on Chavez/ Morales an option anymore? c) What are the causes of the rise of the Left in Latin America and what is the forthcoming impact on the projects of neoliberalism that was thrust upon the continent as if it were a laboratory?
The most intriguing aspect of Prof Ahmad's article is his comment on the current ideological struggle on the strands of communism vs Trotskyism, as to what is the right path toward the transition to socialism. This made me ponder about what exactly was the role of resistance toward neo-liberalism in India itself and which ideological influence and strategy was more worthwhile and elaborate in achieving the requisite goal.
The CPI(M) meanwhile is holding 24rth of January as an "Anti-Imperialist Day", trying to sensitize Indian citizens against US imperialism; particularly profoundly seen in the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and the impending crisis of conflict in Iran, Syria and North Korea.
The important aspect of this particular event is the imperative to democratize foreign policy, in the sense that foreign policy is now being taken to the doors of the common citizens and debates are articulated as to what should India's approach be, to the forces of imperialism that prevail in the neo-liberal and the military senses. To personalise this thought, I was part of a group of volunteers who were asked to distribute pamphlets condemning American occupation in Iraq and its plans to engage in Iran and Syria in the forthcoming future. Myself and a friend were doing this in ITO, a busy road sector in New Delhi, and to our amusement, we found that the response of the common man was bewildered curiousity about the issue. Nevertheless, the process of democratizing foreign policy and not relegating it merely to a cabal of few mandarins and few newspaper analysts (strategic analysts to be precise), has begun.
In this context, a movie titled, "Z", was screened in JNU yesterday. The movie was about the collusion by the police, right wing fascists and the government in Greece in the murder of a leftist-liberal political leader campaigning for issues that included disarmament. The movie (which is in French) moves on a fast pace, and alludes to the influence of the USA as an instigator of the right wing conspiracy. I was immediately reminded by "JFK", where the unknown Black Ops military unit commander says the same thing about how the CIA toppled the Mohammed Mossadeh government in Iran and the entire Vietnam episode. I could correlate the movie with the multiple "coloured" revolutions taking place at Georgia and Ukraine, where popularly elected governments were removed by street demonstrations sponsored by American based organizations.
1 comment:
I found this blog surfing. It was a lucky find.
We can also look forward to Peru, moving left at the next election.
It is often forgotten that Uruguay voted in the left, over the issue of water privatization.
In Central America, it looks good for Mexico to move left.
Regards.
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