Communal Councils

Elías Jaua explains Trump’s plan for Venezuela, and how the people have responded. Jaua also discusses the Maduro government, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, the communes and solidarity with Venezuela.

Peter Rosset, Lia Pinheiro Barbosa and Edgardo Lander debate the meaning of Maduro’s kidnapping, how the left should judge the Bolivarian project, and how to show solidarity with Venezuela.

Reinaldo Iturriza looks at the political situation in Venezuela after the January 3 US attack, the state of Chavismo and the communes and why talk of “betrayal or loyalty” when it comes to the Delcy Rodríguez’s government makes little sense.

Shawn Hattingh — South Africa faces a staggering unemployment crisis. In the face of this, some community-based movements are experimenting with projects such as communes.

Dante Espinoza takes a look at the available data on Venezuela’s economy and communes to see how well claims the Maduro government is progressive and anti-imperialist stack up.

John Brown & Atenea Jiménez — Under an increasingly authoritarian government, Venezuela’s Chavista project faces stark challenges and dilemmas. 

Atenea Jiménez & Simón Rodríguez — More and more leftists, including former Bolivarian activists, are forming new coalitions and campaigns against the government.

Ariadna Mogollón — Venezuela is not the same country it was in 2017, or 2018 when there was a very intense economic crisis due to the blockade imposed by the US. There has been an economic recovery, but its a recovery that has deepened class divisions.

Gerardo Rojas discusses the July 28 presidential election, the current state of community organising in the country and why we might be witnessing the Maduro government’s final break with the Bolivarian process.

Reinaldo Iturriza looks back at the history of communes and how they are supposed to be more than "appendages" of state institutions.

Chris Gilbert — To frame the ecological promise of Venezuela’s communal project, it is useful to consider some of its main features, and contrast them with the capital system.