Episode 62: A Latin American Marxist's perspective (Ft. Diego Ruzzarin)
Jan 20, 2023
01:20:10
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Diego Ruzzarin, a reputable Marxist from Latin America, joins the show to discuss Jan 8th in Brazil, cartels, Socdems in South America, Marxism, Spinoza, American politics, Jordan Peterson, philosophical notions of freedom, the rise of ideological solutions, working-class dissatisfaction, the hypocrisy of legal bourgeois governments, the effects of consuming KFC Cheetos, and American flag usage.
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Quick takeaways
Social democratic leaders in South America present both opportunities and challenges for the left, as their economic plans often lean towards neoliberalism, failing to address structural issues impacting the working class.
Latin American countries should invest in diverse productive forces and establish commercial partnerships with countries like China to break free from unilateral dependence on the Anglo Empire and regain sovereignty over their economies, creating a powerful block that challenges the current world order.
Deep dives
Challenges of the Left Wave in South America
The current left wave in South America, characterized by the election of social democratic leaders, presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, these leaders can enact some positive changes and improve the quality of life for the working class. However, the economic plans and development strategies of these leaders often lean towards neoliberalism, which may fail to address the structural issues causing pain for the working class. This could breed further discontent and fuel reactionary ideologies. The left should be cautious not to provide ideological solutions to material problems and instead focus on improving productive forces and advancing the interests of the proletariat. Additionally, the influence of the West, particularly the Anglo Empire, has changed and is difficult to evaluate if it is stronger or weaker than during the Cold War. Latin America should choose its commercial partners wisely, investing in productive forces and developing partnerships with countries like China to break the unilateral dependence on the Anglo Empire. Brazil, with its strong diplomatic school and potential for economic development, could lead the way in providing an alternative for the left in Latin America.
The Dangers of Neoliberalism and Commodity Dependence
Neoliberalism has led to the commodification of Latin American countries, making them vulnerable to economic exploitation. Relying on a single commodity for export and having a narrow range of trading partners exposes countries to the whims of the global market. To overcome this vulnerability, Latin American countries should invest in developing diverse productive forces and establish commercial partnerships with countries like China. By doing so, they can break free from the unilateral dependence on the Anglo Empire and regain sovereignty over their economies. It is important to avoid bulk ionization and the dangers of becoming too fragmented, as seen in other regions.
The Importance of Unification
Unifying countries that speak Portuguese or Spanish, which share commonalities, can create a powerful block that challenges the current world order.
The Relationship Between Drug Cartels and Capital
Drug cartels, like any other industry, use money to influence politics and help define leaders and policies. The distinction between legal and illegal industries is a bourgeois construction, and the power dynamics between the legal and illegal bourgeoisie are complex and ever-changing.
Today we continue our tradition of talking about events and philosophy from different parts of the world - with reputable Marxists from those parts of the world. Joined by Diego Ruzzarin we tackle Jan 8th in Brazil, Cartels, Socdems in South America, Marxism, Spinoza and much more.
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