That Chavez\’s Bolivarian Revolution was a wondrous thing to consider from afar at first, how it declined into a nationalist authoritarianism that betrays those first fond hopes.
Yes, of course, us horribly aged cynics said this would happen all along. But the author of this piece is as yet only 19. He seems rather to have grasped the realities of political power and the claims of socialism earlier in life than many others.
Something that does amuse though:
Sami Kent is a student particularly interested in Latin America and the Middle East; he plans to study politics at SOAS in October
He\’s going to get something of a shock when he grasps that most of the professoriate at his chosen place of study haven\’t managed to realise as yet what he has already managed.
He’s still got a way to go if he still thinks its possible to combine socialism with liberalism- perhaps someone could refer him to Hayek?
Pat,
He’s half-way there.
A free association socialist enclave could exist within a liberal (libertarian as opposed to US liberal) society. The reverse could happen in a socialist society.
“Sami Kent is a student particularly interested in Latin America and the Middle East; he plans to study politics at SOAS in October” –
I think you have it all there. And that’s from a loyal reader of John Pilger…