Michael Lowy Marxism of Che Guevara

Annotation

In this seminal exploration of Che Guevaras contributions to Marxist thinking, Michael Lwy traces Ches ideas about Marxism both as they related to Latin America and to more general philosophical, political, and economic issues. Now revised and updated, this edition includes a chapter on Guevaras search for a new paradigm of socialism and a substantive essay by Peter McLaren on Ches continued relevance today. Lwy portrays Guevara as a revolutionary humanist who considered all political questions from an internationalist viewpoint. For him, revolutionary movements in Latin America were part of a world process of emancipation. Lwy considers especially Ches views on the contradiction between socialist planning and the law of value in the Cuban economy and his search for an alternative road to the actually existing socialism of the Stalinist and post-Stalinist Soviet bloc. Ches varied occupationsdoctor and economist, revolutionary and banker, agitator and ambassador, industrial organizer and guerrilla fighterwere expressions of a deep commitment to social change. This book eloquently captures his views on humanity, his contributions to the theory of revolutionary warfare, and his ideas about societys transition to socialism, offering a cohesive, nuanced introduction to the range of Guevaras thought.