Re: [Marxism] Che
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Thanks comrades, very useful On Fri, 4 Jan 2019, 2:27 p.m. Louis Proyect via Marxism < marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu wrote: > POSTING RULES & NOTES > #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. > #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. > #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. > * > > I used this for an article on the Cuban revolution: > > > https://www.amazon.com/Che-Guevara-Economics-Transition-Socialism/dp/0873488768 > > From my article: > > Guevara laid out his main ideas on socialist construction in a so-called > "budgetary finance system." According to Carlos Tablada, author of "Che > Guevara: Economics and Politics in the Transition to Socialism", Cuba > would draw upon the following measures to make a planned economy work: > > --advanced accounting techniques that permitted a better system of > controls and an efficient, centralized management; as well as studies > and practical application of methods of centralization and > decentralization by the monopoly corporations; > > --computer technology applied to the economy and management, and the > application of mathematical methods to the economy; > > --techniques of programming production and production controls; > > --use of budgetary techniques as an instrument of financial planning and > controls; > > --techniques of economic controls through administrative means; > > --the experience of the socialist countries. > > Che summed up the spirit of the system as follows: > > "We propose a centralized system of economic management based on > rigorous supervision within the enterprises, and, at the same time, > conscious supervision by their directors. We view the entire economy as > one big enterprise. In the framework of building socialism, our aim is > to establish collaboration between all the participants as members of > one big enterprise, instead of treating each other like little wolves." > > If accounting and controls was all there was to Guevara's concept of > socialism, we would be unimpressed. After all, isn't what the United > States and other advanced capitalist countries going through today > nothing but an exercise in bottom-line mentality. Wouldn't Guevara's > seeming obsession with efficiency and control crush the human spirit? At > the same time he was writing articles on the necessity to introduce > technology into the Cuban economy, students at Berkeley University, many > of whom were sympathetic to the Cuban revolution, were demanding not to > be "mutilated, folded or spindled." The mid-1960s were a period when > large-scale computing had begun to be felt everywhere, including the > liberal arts universities. > > Key to understanding the relationship between the overall goal of > efficiency and the importance of putting people first can be found in > Guevara's approach to the Marxist category of value. It would be value > that would mediate between society and the economy. > > Simply put, Guevara believed that the law of value operates as a "blind, > spontaneous force" under capitalism. Socialism, on the other hand, would > allow conscious action upon the law of value in accordance with an > understanding of the greater needs of society. In his Manual of > Political Economy, Guevara spells out the way the socialist state can > make use of the law of value. > > "We consider the law of value to be partially operative because remnants > of the commodity society still exist. This is also reflected in the type > of exchange that takes place between the state as supplier and as the > consumer. We believe that particularly in a society such as ours, with a > highly developed foreign trade, the law of value on an international > scale must be recognized as a fact governing commercial transactions, > even within the socialist camp. We recognize the need for this trade to > assume a higher form in countries of the new society, to prevent a > widening of the differences between the developed and the more backward > countries as a result of the exchange. In other words, it is necessary > to develop terms of trade that permit the financing of industrial > developments even if it contravenes the price systems prevailing in the > capitalist world market. This would allow the entire socialist camp to > progress more evenly, which would naturally have the effect of smoothing > off the rough edges and of unifying the spirit of proletarian > internationalism. > > "We reject the possibility of consciously using the law of value in the > absence of a free market that
Re: [Marxism] Che
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * I used this for an article on the Cuban revolution: https://www.amazon.com/Che-Guevara-Economics-Transition-Socialism/dp/0873488768 From my article: Guevara laid out his main ideas on socialist construction in a so-called "budgetary finance system." According to Carlos Tablada, author of "Che Guevara: Economics and Politics in the Transition to Socialism", Cuba would draw upon the following measures to make a planned economy work: --advanced accounting techniques that permitted a better system of controls and an efficient, centralized management; as well as studies and practical application of methods of centralization and decentralization by the monopoly corporations; --computer technology applied to the economy and management, and the application of mathematical methods to the economy; --techniques of programming production and production controls; --use of budgetary techniques as an instrument of financial planning and controls; --techniques of economic controls through administrative means; --the experience of the socialist countries. Che summed up the spirit of the system as follows: "We propose a centralized system of economic management based on rigorous supervision within the enterprises, and, at the same time, conscious supervision by their directors. We view the entire economy as one big enterprise. In the framework of building socialism, our aim is to establish collaboration between all the participants as members of one big enterprise, instead of treating each other like little wolves." If accounting and controls was all there was to Guevara's concept of socialism, we would be unimpressed. After all, isn't what the United States and other advanced capitalist countries going through today nothing but an exercise in bottom-line mentality. Wouldn't Guevara's seeming obsession with efficiency and control crush the human spirit? At the same time he was writing articles on the necessity to introduce technology into the Cuban economy, students at Berkeley University, many of whom were sympathetic to the Cuban revolution, were demanding not to be "mutilated, folded or spindled." The mid-1960s were a period when large-scale computing had begun to be felt everywhere, including the liberal arts universities. Key to understanding the relationship between the overall goal of efficiency and the importance of putting people first can be found in Guevara's approach to the Marxist category of value. It would be value that would mediate between society and the economy. Simply put, Guevara believed that the law of value operates as a "blind, spontaneous force" under capitalism. Socialism, on the other hand, would allow conscious action upon the law of value in accordance with an understanding of the greater needs of society. In his Manual of Political Economy, Guevara spells out the way the socialist state can make use of the law of value. "We consider the law of value to be partially operative because remnants of the commodity society still exist. This is also reflected in the type of exchange that takes place between the state as supplier and as the consumer. We believe that particularly in a society such as ours, with a highly developed foreign trade, the law of value on an international scale must be recognized as a fact governing commercial transactions, even within the socialist camp. We recognize the need for this trade to assume a higher form in countries of the new society, to prevent a widening of the differences between the developed and the more backward countries as a result of the exchange. In other words, it is necessary to develop terms of trade that permit the financing of industrial developments even if it contravenes the price systems prevailing in the capitalist world market. This would allow the entire socialist camp to progress more evenly, which would naturally have the effect of smoothing off the rough edges and of unifying the spirit of proletarian internationalism. "We reject the possibility of consciously using the law of value in the absence of a free market that automatically expresses the contradiction between producers and consumers. We reject the existence of the commodity category in relations among state enterprises. We consider all such establishments to be part of the single large enterprise that is the state (although in practice this has not yet happened in our country). The law of value and the plan are two terms linked by a contradiction and its resolution. We can therefore state that centralized planning is the mode of existence of socialist society, its defining
Re: [Marxism] Che
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * TRY THIS --A NETWORK OF LINKS: https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=016552148803725866338%3Altqdhghfa5w=CHE+GUEVERA=Search=links.org.au%2F=www.google.com%2F=2938j922700j11 _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Che
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Che Guevara: the Economics of Revolution, by Helen Yaffe (2009, Palgrave MacMillan) discusses Che's economic ideas and his role in Cuba as part of the revolutionary government. From: Marxism on behalf of Tim Nelson via Marxism Sent: Friday, 4 January 2019 9:11:08 PM To: Chris Slee Cc: Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition Subject: Re: [Marxism] Che POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Thanks. I've read that and the diaries. Was hoping for a sympathetic analysis of his thought/action if someone could recommend one? On Fri, 4 Jan 2019, 12:10 p.m. A.R. G Che's own works have been translated into English. I recommend On Guerilla > Warfare. > > On Fri, Jan 4, 2019, 3:37 AM Tim Nelson via Marxism < > marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu wrote: > >> POSTING RULES & NOTES >> #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. >> #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. >> #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. >> * >> >> Hello >> >> Please could anyone on here recommend a good book on the political thought >> of Che Guevara? >> >> Tim N >> _ >> Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm >> Set your options at: >> https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/amithrgupta%40gmail.com >> > _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/chris_w_slee%40hotmail.com _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Che
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Thanks. I've read that and the diaries. Was hoping for a sympathetic analysis of his thought/action if someone could recommend one? On Fri, 4 Jan 2019, 12:10 p.m. A.R. G Che's own works have been translated into English. I recommend On Guerilla > Warfare. > > On Fri, Jan 4, 2019, 3:37 AM Tim Nelson via Marxism < > marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu wrote: > >> POSTING RULES & NOTES >> #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. >> #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. >> #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. >> * >> >> Hello >> >> Please could anyone on here recommend a good book on the political thought >> of Che Guevara? >> >> Tim N >> _ >> Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm >> Set your options at: >> https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/amithrgupta%40gmail.com >> > _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Che
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Che's own works have been translated into English. I recommend On Guerilla Warfare. On Fri, Jan 4, 2019, 3:37 AM Tim Nelson via Marxism < marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu wrote: > POSTING RULES & NOTES > #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. > #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. > #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. > * > > Hello > > Please could anyone on here recommend a good book on the political thought > of Che Guevara? > > Tim N > _ > Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm > Set your options at: > https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/amithrgupta%40gmail.com > _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
