Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 12:18:35 -0400
From: hariette-AT-easynet.co.uk (Hariette Spierings)
Subject: M-G: TEUTONIC RUBBISH AGAINST J.C. MARIATEGUI


>
>Adolfo,
>
>Have you seen this, from Martens erstwhile German comrades?
>I'll post part 2 as well.
>
>Jim
>
>  ------- Forwarded message follows -------
>
>(- Part 1/2 -)
>
>NEUE EINHEIT Extrablatt Nr. 32
>
>Klaus Sender
>
>JOSE CARLOS MARIATEGUI AND CULTURAL QUESTIONS 
>OF THE PERUVIAN REVOLUTION
>
>(Translation of the German text)
>
>
>               I.
>
>Among the revolutionaries of Latin America, Jose Carlos 
>Mariategui has become very well-known internationally during 
>the past years, unmistakably he is occupying an important role in 
>the entire Latin-American revolution. Besides numerous Marxist 
>writings which deal with political practice and the program, he 
>wrote a lot about Peruvian literature and culture. Beyond Latin 
>America, only during the last decades he was moved more into 
>the public awareness. So far the translations of his "Siete ensayos 
>de interpretacion de la realidad Peruana" and of a further dozen of 
>articles have been published in German. Mariategui comes from 



I find it good that interest in Mariategui's contributions to the cause of
the international proletariat grows.  

However, the "criticism" of Mariategui performed by these TEUTONIC KNIGHTS
is rather stupid and most pretencious.

These "Great Marxists" claim to discern in Mariategui "Incanistic ideas",
and a "pro-catholic and pro-jesuitical position" on the basis of isolated
quotations from the founder of the Communist Party of Peru.

These kind of exegetists are just throwing cheap mud pies upon Mariategui of
the same order as those the Trotskysts professors and the revisionist have
done for many years, while contributing nothing to illuminate the picture
but a collection of rehashes from the most dubious sources.  

These "great critics" take a few isolated quotations out of Mariategui's
vast works to build him up into an "Aunt Sally" who they can then admonish
waging their bogus Marxist fingers in a professorial tones about suppossed
"ABC errors" who the unaware would then swallow-up in wonderment at the
"wisdom and sharpness of the critics".  What these "critics" hope for is to
build up their NON-EXISTING reputations as scholars in the cheapest
bourgeois fashion.


This is what the whole exercise amounts to: They select a few points in Jose
Carlos Mariategui, particularly those in which he is - WHILE ANALYSING THE
CONCRETE HISTORICAL FEATURES OF PERUVIAN SOCIETY - making HISTORICAL
comparisons between the different social and cultural formations arising
UPON PERUVIAN HISTORICAL conditions. 

For example, when Mariategui writes something to the effect that, contrary
to the ALIEN and DISTORTING (unharmonious and unnatural) character of the
ECONOMY developed by the Spaniards in Peru, the Incas had an ECONOMIC BASE
which in its collectivist features corresponded TO A TYPE OF SOCIETY GROWING
IN A NATURAL AND HARMONIOUS FASHION.  

>From this simple fact, our TEUTONIC WISEACRES conclude the false innuendo
that Mariategui was not such a great Marxist as themselves are, being
nothing but an "Incanist"! Bingo! How clever!  

Then they throw up a few samples of how the Incas - as a class based society
- had also DISHARMONIES and even ate human flesh etc.  As if Mariategui
would not have know that!    

Another example of the Aunt Sally system of these critics:  They pick on
Mariategui comparing the relatively fruitful colonising actions of the
Jesuits (in Paraguay and other parts of Latin America)TO THE BARREN
STRAIGHTFORWARD ROBBERY AND GENOCIDE performed by the marauding bands of
Spanish conquitadors out to carve themselves ENCOMIENDAS (serf owning
states) and, these "European geniouses" conclude therefore that Mariategui
was a "clericalist".

The funny thing is that Louis Proyect and the Peruvian revisionist Renique
tried this very same ruse just a few months ago.  Trotskysts, revisionists
and bogus Maoists!  Bingo Again!


Adolfo Olaechea  



     --- from list marxism-general-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---