Searching for the Future in the Streets of Caracas

This essay describes the perilous situation of contemporary neoliberal capitalism which we refer to as immiseration capitalism. We argue that a possible alternative to immiseration capitalism lies in the current movement in Venezuela known as the Bolivarian revolution. The authors recount some of their experiences working as part of the Bolivarian initiative, specifically in the field of education. While we wrestle with what can replace immiseration capitalism—that is, direct democracy, participatory democracy, grassroots democracy, autonomous communities—we maintain that such a struggle acquires a certain valence of authenticity in the example of the Bolivarian Revolution, despite some of its failings and shortcomings. As much as many want to believe that technology will rescue the planet from the destruction of its ecosystems and will help alter the disposition of capitalism to that of a benevolent uncle, it is likely that technology will have the reverse effect.

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