build-it-now

by michael-lebowitz

Build It Now puts forward a clear and innovative vision of a socialist future, and at the same time shows how concrete steps can be taken to make that vision a reality. It shows how the understanding of capitalism can itself become a political act—a defense of the real needs of human beings against the ongoing advance of capitalist profit. Throughout the book, Lebowitz addresses the concerns of people engaged in struggle to create a better world, but aware that this struggle must be informed by the realities of the twenty-first century. Many chapters of the book began life as addresses to worker organizations in Venezuela, where worker self-management is on the agenda. Written by an eminent academic, this is far more than an academic treatise. The book brings an internationalist outlook and vast knowledge of global trends to bear on concrete efforts to transform contemporary society. Build It Now is a testament to the ongoing vitality of the Marxist tradition, drawing on its deep resources of analytical insight and moral passion and fusing them into an essential guide to the struggles of our time.

Genres: Politics, Sociology, Nonfiction, Essays, Economics, Philosophy

Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[Drew · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly, the only thing good about Lebowitz's book is that I bought it from a collective book store in Boulder, Colorado. The end notes mention that each of the chapters appears to have been a separate speech, essay, or collection of notes from some other event. They are thrown together here, with little thought for making a discussion that flows from start to finish.

The book also appears to be preaching to a small choir that is well-versed in the terms the author uses. Without a better background section, perhaps simply adding an appendix that gives a background on economic systems and 20th century development approaches, this book will only reinforce the faith of believers and fail to engage those who may be interested.

I'm disappointed in the author's deification of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. I liked Chavez a great deal early on, but his rhetoric has veered more to the authoritarian rather than the socialist. In fact, he appears headed to creating the thing he most despised in his early years in office, the Soviet Union's failed approach to building a better future.

Finally, I felt a bit of a Stalinist flashback when the author writes "Everyone knows that there are people wearing the red shirt who are opposed to the revolution. Here is the real threat to the Bolivarian Revolution– it's not the private ownership of banks, media and other parts of the existing capitalist enclave. The threat is from within the Bolivarian Revolution itself" (p. 115). To me, this reeks of creating a state of fear and paranoia and seems a slippery slope to purges and persecutions.

There are many fine books on Socialism that aren't poorly written by acolytes. Search them out and give this book a pass.

[Malcolm · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some useful material here but I'm not sure it hangs together that well, partly because most of the chapters were originally prepared for something else – an organising meeting or whatever. One even keeps the wrap-up comments about something on the radio last night. The first chapter is a reasonably short intro to the key points of Marxist political economy, and others are about the need for socialism to emerge through struggle. The final three chapters are focussed on Venezuela and are quite good; the last is a useful analysis pointing to key problems and the penultimate chapter a useful analysis of the problems of Yugoslav worker management with key questions for what is to be done. By itself, the book isn't a major contribution although useful, but in the context of other works on contemporary Marxist and socialist politics it is helpful. It doesn't top my list of key works.

[Franklin · Rating 2 out of 5]

deeply contradictory as he uncritically identifies liberatory ideas from Marx with the practice of Hugo Chavez's "Bolivarian" state.

[Dimitra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like a priest preaching to children - only it's socialism instead of christianism: 1.says nothing new. 2.Sacrifices the complexity of every single concept for the sake of being understood. 3.Depicts the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela the way any priest depicts, respects and reads a Gospel. And 4.proposes no course of action - except of course solidarity, which is reduced to the sense of "love thy neighbour". Lebowitz's book is called "Socialism for the 21st Century" but, although he talks a lot about socialism (again: oversimplified, repeating the same ol' things, with christian piety), I really didn't find anything about the "why and how it must/will be built specifically in the 21st century".

[Algernon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a slim volume that opens with a rather decent review of Marxian theory and leads into a small collection of speeches and essays addressing steps toward moving beyond capitalism. Events in Venezuela have marched beyond the assessments here, but there is a useful overview of the project there, and consideration of efforts at worker governance in Tito's Yugoslavia. A little dated (and some find it overly praiseful of Hugo Chavez although that was not my impression) but with some worthwhile selections.

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good cursory introduction to Marxism and political economy in general for those relatively new to the fields. Unfortunately the book is that and only that, leaving one wishing that he would go even further in-depth, especially in regards to the current socialist movement in Venezuela. Lebowitz is a brilliant thinker and as such should be writing entire books on Venezuela, not just minuscule chapters.

[Beneth]

On Jim's recommend-very-short-very-good shelf. My kinda book. .

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Some parts totally review for anyone familiar with Marxist theory, but his discussion on Yugoslavia and Venezuela and the insights he brings to this discussion are extremely useful.

[graceofgod · Rating 2 out of 5]

decent enough. contains some interesting info on Yugoslavian and Venezuelan experiments with workers self-management and some of the problems which arose from it.