Socialism of the 21st century

Socialism of the 21st century (Spanish: socialismo del siglo XXI) is an interpretation of socialist principles first advocated by German sociologist and political analyst Heinz Dieterich and taken up by a number of Latin American leaders.

Quotes

• En nuestro socialismo tiene un espacio la propiedad privada, si no es monopólica y si tiene función social, es decir, sí cumple con la constitución y las leyes.
  • In our socialism private property has a place, if this one is not monopolistic and has a social role, in other words, if it complies with the constitution and laws.
  • Jorge Arreaza, as quoted in Arreaza: “Documentos del PSUV establecen plan de acción en lo económico” (4 July 2010), United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

• Everyday I become more convinced, there is no doubt in my mind, as many intellectuals have said, that it is necessary to transcend capitalism. But capitalism can not be transcended through capitalism itself; it must be done through socialism, true socialism, with equality and justice. I’m also convinced that it is possible to do it under democracy, but not in the type of democracy being imposed by Washington.
  • Hugo Chávez during his closing speech at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. January 31, 2005. [1]

• We have to re-invent socialism. It can’t be the kind of socialism that we saw in the Soviet Union, but it will emerge as we develop new systems that are built on cooperation, not competition.
  • Hugo Chávez during his closing speech at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. January 31, 2005. [2]

• No se trata de estatizar toda la economía (...) No, nuestro socialismo acepta la propiedad privada. Solo que esa propiedad privada debe estar en el marco de una constitución y leyes y de un interés social.
  • It's not about nationalize the entire economy, (...) No, our socialism accepts private property. It's only that this private property must be within the framework of a constitution and laws and of a social interest.
  • Hugo Chávez, as quoted in Socialismo aceptará propiedad privada (23 July, 2007), La Nación

• El socialismo bolivariano nosotros tenemos que construirlo en el marco de la Constitución Bolivariana. [...] Nosotros no tenemos prevista la eliminación de la propiedad privada, ni la grande ni la pequeña. [...] El socialismo tenemos que construirlo, los sectores de clase media, profesionales, técnicos, nos hacen falta para construir un socialismo productivo. Nosotros necesitamos a la clase media, a los profesionales, a los técnicos, a los empresarios, a los agricultores, a la juventud, que se incorpore a un debate amplio. El socialismo del siglo XXI es democracia. Nosotros no estamos hablando de la dictadura del proletariado. No.
  • We have to build the Bolivarian socialism within the framework of the Bolivarian Constitution. [...] We do not envisage the abolition of private property, neither the big nor the little one. [...] Socialism has to be built by us, the sectors of the middle class, professionals, technicians, they are needed to build a productive socialism. We need the middle class, the professionals, the technicians, the entrepreneurs, the farmers, the youth, to join into a broad debate. Socialism of the 21st century is democracy, we are not talking about the dictatorship of the proletariat. No.
  • As quoted in Chávez propone constituir un ministerio para el seguimiento de obras y políticas (6 October 2012), Correo del Orinoco.

See also

• Market socialism
• Social democracy