The
people of Latin America have a strong tradition of struggle. This tradition
manifested itself first in the struggle against Spanish colonialism, then became
generalised with independence movements. Since the beginning of this century, it
has become more intensified as an anti-oligarchic, anti-imperialist and
democratic struggle, and has shaken the hegemony of the bourgeoisie and
monopolist capital in the region.
Class
contradictions have found their most apparent expressions in the struggles of
the Latin American workers and peoples. These struggles have written the history
of our continent, full of heroism and determination. They have been the
continuous source of the main contradictions which have upset the world
especially in this century.
From
Mexico to the Caribbean and Central America, from Panama to Patagonia our
peoples have manifested an inexorable struggle against foreign hegemony and the
yoke of exploitation. In this process the working class, with its parties and
political organisations, has played a significant role in the raising of the
consciousness of the working people and the popular masses in general, and in
social struggle, democratic gains and political rights. It has also profoundly
influenced socialist thought, social sciences, biology, law and other scientific
fields of research.
In
the formation and development of this democratic, progressive, anti-imperialist,
anti-oligarchic and revolutionary thought of the Latin American peoples,
Marxist-Leninist socialist ideology, especially the Communist Manifesto, which
is one its principal works, written by Marx and Engels in 1848 on behalf of the
International Working Men's Association, has had an unquestionable effect.
Scientific
socialist ideology, which has played a significant role in the formation of the
progressive consciousness of the working class in the region, has been an
inspiration to working class struggle, and it has led most of the revolutionary
struggles against the bourgeoisie and imperialism in the American countries.
These revolutionary movements, with ebbs and flows and with victories and
temporary defeats at different times, have faced the ideological, political,
cultural and military repression of the enemies of progress, and caused them to
experience shameful defeats.
Today
the Marxist-Leninist ideology and movement, the leftist and revolutionary
consciousness which continue to exist amongst the working people and in the
progressive sections of society are fighting against the attacks conducted by
finance capital. These attacks are an assault on our peoples' right to
existence, targeting nations' independence and sovereignty, and manifested in
neoliberal policies with all their destructive effects.
Another
manifestation of these attacks is the new anti-communist campaign, which, with a
unique ferocity, is designed to eradicate the signs of the revolutionary left
and the ideals of socialism by blackening them, sowing seeds of scepticism with
regards to the validity and effectiveness of their struggle, and imposing social
reconciliation on peoples as an alternative in order to save capitalism.
However,
we have no doubt that our principles which have become stronger, renewed and
improved out of these harsh struggles will continue to be the guide for building
a new life, the inalienable aim of the working class and the peoples.
Devotion
to revolutionary theory, the process of formation and consolidation of left
forces, accumulation of experience, correcting mistakes and utilising unrealised
possibilities, all this creates the possibility for peoples' struggles, which
are -even though slow- on a new rise, to guarantee the future of the
anti-imperialist and anti-oligarchic struggles whose ultimate aim is to seize
power.
This
new process of development gives new responsibilities to the left forces in
terms of contributing to revolutionary science and defending it. This requires
them to make new attempts and new efforts. This is how peoples' consciousness
can be influenced, thus ensuring that it becomes a solid guide of our struggle.
Also, the general situation requires us to be in the forefront of the struggle
for power, to lead our peoples, and to open the path to freedom and democracy.
The
independence of the Spanish colonies in America was achieved as a result of the
influence of the bourgeoisie utilising the instability of colonial economy.
These independence movements were, in a way, politically inspired by the 1789
French Revolution and the thoughts of the Age of Enlightenment, and they sought
to develop the capitalist features of those countries in order to establish
modern national states governed by representative bourgeois democracies.
In
our continent the working class began to take shape in the last years of the
last century, but this development has not been at the same pace and with the
same intensity in every country of the continent.
The
nucleus of the working class emerged as a result of the capitalist mode of
production becoming dominant with the production and export of agricultural
products such as coffee, cacao, cotton, sugar cane, banana and mines such as
copper, gold, silver, tin, carbon and potassium nitrate, etc.
Furthermore,
the monopolist capital -European or US originated- which entered the continent,
has benefited from the local bourgeoisie and big land owners who were concerned
about their class interests and undertook an important role with the bourgeoisie
in the formation of the new American Republics, accepting the imperialist
hegemony without objection. The economies of these new countries have been run
under the hegemony of big land owners and the bourgeoisie together with foreign
capital, maintaining the remnants of semi-feudal structure.
All
these factors have a determining character on the slow and deformed capitalist
development process, and they define most of the problems of underdevelopment
and dependence.
The
existence of foreign capital is a determining factor in the higher level of
capitalist development in some of the American countries such as Argentina,
Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia. Although a similar process has been
undergone in the other countries of the region, development of these countries
has been limited.
It
is without doubt that since its formation the working class of Latin America has
been faced with a harsh and cruel oppression and exploitation. At that early
time working people laboured in unhealthy workplaces under inhuman conditions
and without any holidays and restricted working hours.
The
workers who were not protected against any work accidents were faced with
constant penalties, even physical punishments. Their already low wages were
eroded through payments for the high price goods usually bought from the shops
connected to their workplaces.
The
working people whose consciousness had risen began to fight against these living
conditions and sought for ways of improving them. However, these individual and
spontaneous uprisings were suppressed with arms. Later, having gained experience
and realised the power of their unity, they formed the first workers'
associations, unions and political organisations.
Workers
movements in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay where the level of capitalist
development was high, were influenced especially by the political ideas of the
working people who had migrated from Europe where there had been big workers
movements. Anarchism which was dominant in the Spanish section of the
International was the first current of idea in which the working people of our
continent were interested, and it found a suitable environment to spread in
Latin America.
Later,
scientific socialist ideas of the International founded by Marx and Engels came
to the continent as an ideological centre, a political movement and organic
link. The Communist Manifesto, which had been circulated clandestinely in many
Latin American countries, reached the workers through the intellectuals who
adopted the Marxist ideology. As far as is known the Manifesto was first
published in 1888 in Mexico.
In
1896, "O Socialista", the first socialist journal in Brazil, was
published. The slogan under the title of the journal was the slogan of the
Communist Manifesto: "Workers of all countries, unite!"
A year later "El Proletario" in Chile took over the defence of
Marxism. It was followed by "El
Obrero" which was published in
1890 in Argentina. The representatives of this journal
participated in the Socialist Congress held in Paris in 1898.
As
a result of the conflict in Uruguay, the anarchist currents lost power vis-a-vis
Marxist ideology whose principles were accepted by the majority of the workers'
organisations. Jose Marti in Cuba expressed his admiration for Karl Marx
publicly in 1883.
Although
Montalvo could not understand fully the fundamentals of scientific socialism,
the credibilitiy of Marxist ideology and of the International led him to
introduce this organisation in the Ecuador of his time.
When
Marcos Alfero, the brother of the liberal "caudillo" Eloy Alfaro,
publicly declared his affiliation to this international organisation, the church
and the conservatives did not wait a minute to attack him.
Luis
de Tola, the Portoviejo Bishop, called on everyone to fight against those who
were planning to bring into the country "the devilish social system which
makes every family and property owner tremble, in the name of the International
which is the summit of modern rottenness."
A
piece of paper going around from hand to hand in Quito in 1876 read as follows:
"The International infiltrated in our ranks has been declared through a
society gathered in Quito through the effort of Juan Montalvo... This is an
ultimately atheist current. The International means handing over the wealth
gained with honour to those who will never
know how to work. This is in favour of those who usurp the labour of the
hard working people with deceitful excuses such as the organisation of labour
and fair wages. Down with the pro-Internationalists!"
The
Socialist October Revolution in Russia, led by the Bolshevik Party, Lenin and
Stalin, was another phenomenon which had a great influence on the workers and
peoples of Latin America. Despite geographical distance and the efforts of the
bourgeoisie, state officials and the police not to let people learn of this
development, news about the changes in the lives of the working people as a
result of their coming to power reached the region. The people of Latin America
realise how determinedly the workers and peasants built the socialist regime,
and how the peoples who were victims of oppression and exploitation were trying
to build a society without exploiters and exploited.
The
socialist nucleus occurred through the contribution of some intellectuals and
self-employed people who, during the November 1922 workers uprising, had been
the supporters and participants of the workers Councils which had been held back
until then. The first of these councils was set up in Quito in 1909, and the
second in Guayaquil in 1920.
In
this period, the socialist press had a great effect on the spread of proletarian
views. The first socialist newspaper "Bandera Roja" reflected its
views around socialist and anarchist concepts. This was followed by "El
Proletario" , "Alba Roja", "Luz y Accion" and "La
Antorcha".
Also,
we should not forget the significant political contribution to the November 1922
uprisingof the Guayaquil Women's Centre which was named after Rosa Luxemburg,
the well-known leader of the workers' movement in Germany and Poland, and the
founder of the Communist Party of Germany.
These
women excited and inspired the strikers with their speeches, chanted the slogans
of the struggle, took part in big street demonstrations, and some of these
heroic women lost their lives in the bloody repression by the liberal government
of Jose Lui Tamayo against the workers who called for a general strike.
Among
the later formations were "Grupo Socialista" in Quito, "La
Reforma" in Tulcan, "Partido Socialista Democratico" in Riobamba,
"Grupo del Azuay" in Cuenda, "La Vanguardia" in Loja,
"Centro Socialista Doctrinario" in Guayaquil, and "Nucleo
Revolucionario de Manabi" in Portovijo.
All
these formations are examples of the role of revolutionary Marxist ideas in the
struggle and organisation of the working people of Ecuador.
The
blood of the workers shed in the massacre of the 15 November 1922 led to new
progress in the education, organisation and struggle instead of intimidating the
workers. For example, "Ecuador Republic Lenin Communist Propaganda and
Action Section" founded in 1925 inspired by the Mexican communist Rafael
Ramos Pedruza, applied to the Third International in Moscow, with the slogan
"Workers of the world, unite!"
All
these efforts would lead to the formation of, first, the Socialist Party of
Ecuador in May 1926, and then the Communist Party of Ecuador as a section of the
Third International in January 1930.
The
Communist Manifesto came to being as a result of the necessity of explaining to
the world what and who the communists are. It is a principal work which was
designed as a tool of the foundation of a genuine revolutionary party which is
the highest form of organisation of the proletarian class.
In
order for the proletariat to come victoriously out of its struggle against
capital, the Manifesto emphasises the need for a political party which can
analyse their interests, educate and organise them, and lead the struggle for
power and for the building of a new world.
The
Manifesto also aimed to bring an objective and real interpretation for the
working people and the oppressed in order to change the world in accordance with
their interests, and has succeeded in doing this.
This
short work has not only met the then existing situation's requirements, but it
also challenged the period with its appropriate and wide scale programmes, and
it has maintained its validity up until today.
The
most important theory of the Manifesto is the one which has shown that the
history of society consists of contradictions and class struggles, and which has
rejected "social conciliation", consensus and other methods presented
by the bourgeoisie and the revisionists in order to slow down and divert the
struggle of the proletariat and the peoples. This theory suggests that the final
aim of class struggle is to destroy the capitalist system based on oppression
and exploitation and to establish the hegemony of the proletariat.
This
form of power, which is different from the capitalist repressive regime,
promises freedom, real social justice, welfare and culture to the working
people.
The
Communist Manifesto expresses the inevitability of the collapse of capitalism in
its dialectical process of development. With their application of the historical
laws of development to society, Marx and Engels pointed to the fact that the
capitalist system can be overthrown with a revolution through which socialism
can be established.
Socialism
which has objectively existed in this century was a result of the efforts of
working people and freedom-loving men
and women. It has been developed by revolutionaries and communists. During its
implementation in the USSR and other countries it has proved its ability to
bring solution to the main problems of the working people and poor people. It
put an end to the chaos caused by capitalism, provided freedom, jobs and justice
to the peoples, and given them back their honour. This was the case until the
betrayal of the revisionists such
as Khrushchev, Gorbachev and Yeltsin who diverted its aims.
However,
despite this historical junction and grave betrayal, the working class and the
peoples of the world are accumulating their forces and energy which will give a
new revolutionary mobilisation to the struggle for a life style different from
the one presented by capitalism and its collaborators.
The
Manifesto and the theory of socialism place the social movement of the working
class at the centre of the changes in the present world, and consider it the
determining factor in these changes.
The
political aims of the workers' movement manifesting its social importance in
different periods of the history of our countries, the changes in the
revolutionary movement, fierce attacks of the ruling classes and imperialism,
the bloody suppression of the struggle of the workers and the peoples...
Although all this has not yet been concretised in the face of the mistakes made
during the struggle and in the conditions of the ideological, political and
organisational campaign designed to divert the working class from its targets,
this does not mean the denial of the role of the working people in changing the
world. The fact that this important role of the international workers' movement,
which is experiencing a new awakening despite the deep wounds it has suffered,
is on the agenda again proves that the objective laws of social development
expressed by the founders of scientific socialism in the Manifesto are
inevitable.
There
is no doubt that the struggles of the Latin American workers and peoples are
mainly inspired by the fundamentals of Marxism expressed in the Manifesto and
other works. The universally valuable content of these works is of great
importance in analysing the historical framework of capitalist development in
our continent and the historical roots of our peoples and their development,
thus in determining the foundations of the struggle of the oppressed.
Marxism-Leninism
has had an undeniable influence on many revolutionary processes which have not
been victorious, such as the ones in Brazil, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Chile.
Although revolutionary doctrine had an important effect on many of these
revolutionary attempts, theoretically and organisationally it was not able to
establish itself as the main base of these processes, and thus there were grave
mistakes.
The
revolutionary theory of the workers had a role in the process of Cuban
revolution; it gave direction to that struggle, and served as the basis for the
main actions in combat against the tyranny of Batista, for the establishment of
popular power, and for the initial steps in the construction of socialism; this
was before the position which was taken in relation to the USSR caused errors in
the forward march of socialist construction. The present "rectification
movement" creates new prospects for the development of revolutionary
movement, correcting some mistakes.
Just
the same as the Manifesto pointed to the fact that socialist consciousness and
its political extension should be the only basis for the fight against the
diversions from revolutionary thought, the Marxist ideology in Latin America had
to fight against those currents which attempted to destroy and distort it and
give concessions on its main principles.
As
indicated above, Marxism first fought against the anarchist and
anarco-syndicalist currents, then against the nationalism of ARPA in Peru, the
Peronist "justicism" in Argentina, and the populist
"Vargism" in Brazil.
Marxism-Leninism
waged a harsh fight against social democrats, bourgeois populism, and the right
wing forces who did not hesitate to establish fascism in order to block
revolutionary struggle.
Another
important ideological fight conducted by Marxism-Leninism has been against the
harmful influence of revisionism which is an ideological and political bourgeois
concept designed to divert the struggle for revolution and socialism.
Thanks
to this life and death struggle Marxism has maintained its existence without
dilution and has not been dissolved despite the fact that it has not yet
recorded any big achievements in our region.
Reformist
and revisionist diversions have spread amongst the working class which is faced
with the continuous attacks of bourgeois governments and capitalist bosses.
Anti-communist attack has chosen the working class as its target because
of its characteristics and historical role.
As
a result, the revolutionary left in our continent is faced with an important
task: to spread our proposals for change within the framework of
Marxism-Leninism and the scientific theory of revolution, responding to the
problems of the period we live in, to work non-stop in order to improve the
level of consciousness of the working people, thus directing our action towards
the necessary changes to deal with the present problems, and to enable us to
reach towards the future.
As
the revolutionary left of the continent the principal question we have to answer
in our work is this: Is the principal doctrine of the Communist Manifesto and
the Marxist-Leninist theory still valid in order to achieve the necessary
changes in our region, or have their analyses and proposals lost their
historical validity and can they no longer be implemented in solving our
problems?
We
believe that they are still valid; but also it is our task to study them in the
light of the new historical circumstances. Such a study does not destroy their
revolutionary character, on the contrary it proves their validity and it is a
requirement of dialectical change.
The
question is whether we can reach a solution for these problems which require a
revolution in our countries, basing ourselves on these revolutionary principles
of our theory, and whether we can achieve the process of change in our
continent. In order to cope with the fierce attacks of imperialism and the
international bourgeoisie, and to be the chosen vehicle for taking our peoples
towards the changes we want, our parties and organisations have to be stronger
on the ideological plane, in their political action and organisational
structure, and more influential in our countries.
First
of all, we need to take a strong ideological, political and organisational
initiative in the eyes of our peoples in order to explain our proposals, who we
are, what we want, and what we want to do in our respective countries. This is
the only way of getting the support of the working masses for our proposals.
We
believe that our proposals must be based on the necessity of the improvement of
the daily lives of our peoples, and of the organisation of revolutionary
struggle as the only path for achieving emancipation. The ruling classes and
imperialism try to eliminate social struggle in order to present
"consensus" and "social reconciliation" as an alternative
solution to poverty and underdevelopment.
We
must develop social struggle, being in the forefront for peoples' demands,
aspirations, needs and rights. We must spread the proposals of revolutionaries
and the idea of necessity and the urgency of social change and revolution. This
is how we can give a socialist consciousness to the struggle of the masses, and
increase the influence of our political organisations.
In
order to put an end to the unjust and irrational political system, the democracy
of the rich dominated by the bourgeoisie and monopolies, people should have the
consciousness to reject the existing society because of its inhuman character.
With their tradition of struggle and hard-working character our people cannot
continue to live in the same way as they have lived; an alternative must be
found to this disgusting system.
The
left must help people to understand the necessity of seizing power; because the
working people can meet their needs fully, as is said in the Communist
Manifesto, only when they come to power.
The
alternative which we have to support and to spread unconditionally is socialism,
a regime based on real social equality and on the emancipation of the working
people, a regime where there is no oppression and oppressed. The implementation
of socialism before it suffered that historical betrayal has proved that it can
provide welfare, decent jobs, educational, health and cultural services to
peoples.
The
reality of Latin America, the changes we are undergoing, the state of social
struggle in the continent, the opposition supporting change, different forms of
struggle against the enemy, the possibilities of social movement...
Revolutionaries must understand all this well. They must learn revolutionary
theory, master Marxism-Leninism, and fulfil their tasks in the struggle of our
peoples.
All
forms of struggle should be learnt and put in service with the aim of seizing
power. As is stated in the Manifesto, our peoples can win their freedom only
through revolutionary violence, and armed struggle against capital.
Strengthening
unity and solidarity between the revolutionary, left, progressive and democratic
organisations in the continent and in the world is an present day necessity for
all the forces aiming for change, struggling against imperialism and the
bourgeoisie, and, with us aiming for revolution and socialism. Our aim is known.
Let us now unite our fists and wills to achieve this aim with honour.
The
statement presented by the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Ecuador to the
Second International Seminar on "The Questions of Revolution in Latin
America".
July
1998
M-L Communist Party of Ecuador