The recent developments in Venezuela and especially Chavez’s talk of socialism which he named as “Socialism of the 21st Century” created a new wave of excitement in the vast majority of the world socialist movement. It is undoubtedly exciting and pleasing for anyone who calls himself/herself Marxist to see that working masses demonstrate openly their discontent against the system by eliminating traditional bourgeois parties, repulse - by fighting in the streets - attempts of coup d´état supported by the Venezuelan oligarchy and the US imperialism and finally create a revolutionary situation. But, the meaning of these developments changes when it is realized that the real source of this wave of excitement is not the revolutionary situation created by the initiative of the masses but the demagogical talk and populist policies of Chavez.

A great social crisis is fermenting on a world scale. It is possible to spot the signs of the general crisis in almost every field. While the wealth is concentrating in fewer hands, the ranks of misery get more crowded on the other side. Welfare rises on the one side, destitution on the other. The economic, social and political pressure on the proletariat and other toiling classes is becoming more intense. Unemployment is rising, working conditions are becoming worse, sense of insecurity about future is desperately growing. The economic, social and democratic gains are gradually being destroyed, which were obtained and generalized for the whole of society by the working class after long struggles and great sacrifices.

For such a long time the significant lyrics of the Internationale have reflected the revolutionary hope and enthusiasm of the working class in many countries. The International unites the human race! These words do not merely voice revolutionary enthusiasm rising up through the air, but also express an important truth. It is an indispensable condition that the working class must be successful in its struggle against capitalism in order for the humanity to achieve liberty, getting rid of the evil of exploitative and class societies. To advance this struggle and gain victory depends in turn on the level of internationalist consciousness and organization of the proletariat.