Latin America

This week’s planned protests in Cuba ended in failure, with the forces of reaction unable to mobilise ordinary people to their cause. On the other side, young communists are beginning to organise in defence of the Cuban Revolution.

The Cuban Revolution is at a decisive crossroads. The economy is in crisis; discontent is rising; and reactionary forces are mobilising. The only way forward is on the basis of workers’ democracy and international socialism.

Counter-revolutionary protests have erupted onto the streets of Cuba, provoked by the deteriorating economic situation facing the country. Socialists must defend the Cuban revolution, oppose imperialism, and fight for workers’ democracy.

From the 2019 ‘Red October’ in Chile and Ecuador; to the recent mass movement in Colombia and Castillo’s victory in Peru: Latin America is seeing a wave of struggle. Jorge Martin discusses the perspectives for revolution across the continent.

The victory of Pedro Castillo in the Peruvian presidential election is a major political earthquake, which reflects the enormous social and political polarisation in the Andean country. The ruling class has been dealt a massive defeat by the masses, who have rallied behind a militant teacher trade unionist at the head of a party, Perú Libre, which calls itself Marxist, Leninist and Mariateguist (after Mariátegui, the founder of the Peruvian labour and socialist movement).

New documents reveal the existence of a secretive “Venezuela Reconstruction Office” at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, showing the close relationship between the Tory government and the coup-plotting Juan Guaido. We say: Hands off Venezuela!

Millions of women across Latin America – who have been at the forefront of recent revolutionary uprisings – took to the streets on International Women’s Day. The struggle for women’s liberation must be a struggle for socialism.

Latin America has been shaken by tumultuous events. Mass uprisings have erupted against austerity and oppression. However, the forces of reaction are organising in response. These must be fought with revolutionary means.

This summer has seen catastrophic fires in the Amazon, a consequence of environmental destruction in the interests of big business. This process has been accelerated under Bolsonaro. We say kick out Bolsonaro! Kick out capitalism!