Hugo Chavez

Doug Dominello

POLS 1002: Introduction to Political Theory

Spring 2013

Hugo Chavez, Marx and Engels and the Venezuelan Revolution

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels introduced the idea that history is one of a struggle between classes. Marx and Engels were not talking about the economic lower, middle, and upper classes of today. Instead, what Marx and Engels meant was the struggle between the working and capitalist classes. Another way of looking at it is the ruling class versus the ruled class. Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, had similar ideas about stopping the exploitation of the working class. I believe that Marx and Engels would agree with Chavez’s policies, programs and ideas because of Chavez’s desire to get rid of capitalism, the social reforms Chavez did and because the problems arising in Venezuela opened the door for a revolution.

Marx and Engels argued that the struggle between the ruling class and the ruled class is actually the struggle between the Bourgeois and the Proletarians (2003, 126). Marx and Engels say that the expansion of industry itself has advanced the development of the Bourgeoisie, which led to the development of the Proletariat or the ruled class (2003, 127). When Marx and Engels say, “It has agglomerated population, centralized the means of production, and concentrated property in the hands of a few (Marx and Engels 2003, 129).” What this means is that Bourgeois have taken control of everything and this is what Marx and Engels are trying to get rid of. The Bourgeois control all the means of production and property and therefore have power over the Proletariats. The Proletariats have become “enslaved by the individual [Bourgeoisie]” because their only option for finding work is to do what the Bourgeoisie demand (Marx and Engels 2003, 131). Modern day capitalism has not changed all that much from Marx and Engels time. The capitalists continue to exploit the working class for their own economic advancement. In Venezuela...