> What's good to read on Marxism in Latin America?
Hope it helps to hint to some important names (authors). I am afraid
most of their works are not published in English.
Mariategui, Jose Carlos (Peru): it is a "pioneer" both
chronologically and content wise. He introduced, right from the early 1900s,
notions of indianity and colonialism into marxist thought. It would
surprise me if his "7 thesis on L.A...." are not translated into
English.
Cueva, Agustin (Ecuador). He died quite recently, and I therefore
suspect (hope) that something has been published in English as a sort
of compilation of writings or "memorial...". He comes from a
sociological tradition, though he also wrote a "economic history of
LA". Whatever you find from him is worth reading.
Arismendy, Rodney (Uruguay). The same as with Cueva, he died
recently. He is a sociologist, founder of the Communist party in
Uruguay. Comes from a leninist tradition, "latinamericanised" little by
little, especially after the Sandinista experience, which he joined
in the early set up.
Zea, Leopoldo (Mexico). His first writings were more..., say cautios
marxist "approximations". But it was the Cuban revolution that
radicalized his thoughts and became a marxist proponent.
Gonzalez Casanova, Pablo (Mexico). He is an historian, and wrote a
lot about economics and labour. He has also edited an impressive
history collection, putting together many writers, of a marxian
strand practically all them. He could be more known in the US as he
explicitly intended to appeal to the northamerican (progressist)
publicl by (trying to) integrating latam marxism with US "empiricism"
(whatever it may mean).
Sanchez Vasquez,Adolfo (Spaniard, later nationalised in Mexico). He
writes from a philosophical point of view. Interesting in the sense
that it links also with a Spanish tradition of "classical"
non-marxists philosophers (as Ortega y Gasset). IMO he treats marxism sometimes in a
reductionist / materialist narrow way...
Dussel, Enrique (Argentina). He writes from philosophical and
theological backgrounds. His main contribution, which I think is,
next to 'indianity', a most revelant "originality" of Latam marxism,
is the appraisal of marxist thoughts as they were incorporated by
grass roots groops and social movements whose "militancy' (?) or
political engagements is derived from christian groups.
Vilas, Carlos (mexico). Casually, I 've recently told of a book published
in English: Magnus,B., Cullenberg,S.... (eds)(1995)(Routledge)
"Whiter Marxism? Global Issues in International Perspective", where
there is a chapter wiritten by Carlos Vilas about Latam marxism. I
believe it must be good. (BTW, there is also in that book a critical
appraisal of Foucalt...).
And, obvioulsy, if you want to make the "synthesis" yourself, one
should give a look to Sandino, Farabundo Marti, Jose Marti (Cuba),
Ernesto (che) Guevara, and... Fidel.
Pls. tell me if you find something in English over there. I am
curious.
Salud,
Alex
>
Alex Izurieta
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Institute of Social Studies
P.O. Box 29776
2502 LT The Hague
Tel. 31-70-4260480
Fax. 31-70-4260.755
4260.799
