Introduction: This paper aims
dazzle the apparent contradiction discursive socialist vision that everyone expected of Jose "Pepe" Mujica Cordano, its history as the founder of the National Liberation Movement, having been elected in a party left, of the Frente Amplio, for his sympathy with other leaders in the region this trend, such as Hugo Chávez, Evo Morales, Cristina Kirchner, as well as with the Cuban regime. While assuming the Presidency of Uruguay, the discourses and seeks to implement policies that are clearly liberal, arguing that Uruguay must have a modern capitalist development as a priority to apply for state reform, ensuring an efficient state. In the analysis of the Uruguayan leader's political career rather than see that contradiction could be seen as an evolution of the personal and national and international context, responding in a manner consistent with the demands of the historical moment and the responsibility of his position.
The ideological evolution of Jose "Pepe" Mujica
After winning the election in November 2009, José Mujica, supported by the center-left coalition (MLN-T/MPP/Frente Amplio), the March 1, 2010 assumed the President's Office Uruguay. The story that accompanies the figure, the urban guerrilla is the Tupamaros during an "authoritarian democracy" and then the dictatorship, turned in part on the return to democracy in the '80s. And in recent years as a politician, far from radical leftist Social Democrats approached the moderate former President Vázquez, for in recent months made explicit its desire to look like Brazilian President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva, who also with a socialist origin liberal policies implemented and moderated his speech. With Lula has much in common, a self-concern, the origin worker worker and a seemingly pragmatic view that the socialist militancy led the Liberal government.
José Mujica's friendships between the leaders of the region are due to the prevailing ideological affinity. Bolivian President Evo Morales called the "grandfather of ideological" and we could mention the praise for the former guerrilla struggle by other regional leaders such as Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in Argentina, Rafael Correa in Ecuador, Guatemala Alvaro Colom, Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, Fernando Lugo in Paraguay, Leonel Fernandez Reyna in the Dominican Republic, Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and the Castro brothers in Cuba. Common ideological orientation gives a sense of identity, group membership. Although we may distinguish within the leftist orientation of these governments, those who embrace a progressive ideological court, the social democrats, socialists, communists and Marxism-Leninism.
admiration for Cuba's regime is rooted in his youth, when the Tupamaros decided to follow the strategy of armed struggle and had made a triumphant revolution in Cuba. That was where he lived extreme moments of violence, bombings, shootings, kidnappings, his time in prison, his escape from it and then go back to being apprehended. In 1985 with the return of democracy Mujica released by the Amnesty Law MLN and waiver to continue their struggle for democratic rules. Upon its approach to the Frente Amplio, which already "in its midst Mujica was one of the architects of the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP), a center of radical left Frente where converged the MLN-T, the PST and three formations under with very little implementation, the Party for People's Victory (PVP, filoanarquista), the Movimiento Revolucionario Oriental (MRO, Guevara) and the Revolutionary Communist Party (PCR, Marxist-Leninist-Maoist). " In 1995 he won a seat as a Member on behalf of Montevideo as a member of MPP in the list 609 of the FA.
From the Senate in 1999, working on par with Vazquez and Astori (now Vice President of Mujica), to "broaden the base of support, gathering strength and emphasize the message of pragmatism and moderation, but without sacrificing the fundamental objectives of social justice and economic abandonment of dogmatism liberal, following the example of socialist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil. " There he began to announce its flexibility of their ideological position despite having a past as committed to the socialist vision. Keep in mind that the Frente Amplio is closer to social democracy or Giddens' third way proposed to humanize capitalism through socialist economic management to the old socialism Marx Communist inspired by his time at the Tupamaros.
then as Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries in the Government of Vazquez began to realize the need for investors, lived under his rule the urge to get more impact on the market so he learned to promote private sector participation shares, which were the State. As well as Minister of Agriculture, Jose Mujica: he became "more liberal."
international market openness, trade liberalization is part of this learning in the management Mujica. Still has the priority to address the Great Fatherland while reiterating the willingness to trade the rest of the world. "For Uruguay, the opening starts in the region. But this is not incompatible with an opening just as important on a universal scale. The best is to sell some to many," he said. This marks a clear desire for economic autonomy, perhaps seeking to reduce its dependence on Argentine and Brazilian markets, to increase trade agreements with other countries and regional blocs, while not damaging the MERCOSUR agreement.
During the presidential campaign in Buenos Aires, reiterated that the regional benchmark was Lula and Chávez is not, whom he accused of not being built any socialism, but a lot of bureaucracy, though he could not but sympathize personally with him and his revolution in Venezuela. Here is how distinguished its ideological sympathy of his admiration for a way to govern, differentiation of ideals to the real action takes a political leader in history. Mujica criticism of Chavez by state bureaucracies, are aligned to the promise of clean surplus state employees and recalled that the financial crisis that lost their jobs were private and not public sector. So the governor criticized the ruling bureaucracy, with which it has to co-govern and promised a reform of the state, the modernization of the state, but is well aware that few internal barriers will not to do so. That same day
presentation in Buenos Aires to Uruguay said that receive foreign investment "must have very clear rules," so "the world thinks it is a country very seriously." With clear rules concerning a free economy, respect for private property, liberal values \u200b\u200bthat govern the economic system in which Uruguay and the world at large are involved so you can not ignore. So once again differs from socialism Chavez and Kirchner progressivism that have nationalized private companies, removed concessions to foreign companies had invested in Venezuela and Argentina. And other policy measures that deviate from the values democratic to be authoritarian, and drive away foreign investment that the Uruguayan people need for economic growth. This is also observable being away from his original socialist-communist ideology that seeks the conquest of political power by the proletariat. "And this entails the abolition of bourgeois property" and ultimately proposing the "abolition of property Private "for all property in that time has been generated by the exploitation of the bourgeoisie and has nothing to do with previous property types.
Constant Mujica's speech is his recognition that "overcoming poverty is one way: generate wealth "socialism, capitalism, economic growth for the state to redistribute. So is recognizing an important role of the state as regulator of the economy to ensure social justice. Aims to promote investment, ensuring clear rules for investment, so there jobs and Uruguayans to emigrate looking for a better life. Mujica intelligence to want to redistribute, referring to education, training needed to get skilled jobs that are not covered by a lack of skilled workers. Several times mentioned areas such as computer or the agrotechnical where the level of unemployment is zero. "The intelligence that a country pays is distributed intelligence," he told a group of intellectuals, bemoaning the brain drain and calling for civil liability of those who have received a better education and make it serve the country.
At times, Mujica seems to be taking the role of an alchemist who seeks the best way for the development of his country, though always based on democracy as a form of government, "the Uruguayan democracy and will continue finding its way to wellness formulas ". You may want to reinvent the Keynesian welfare state, with greater efficiency and control with social liberalism Economy Social Marketing as the humanistic view, with a choice between a market economy and planned economy. Among non-negotiable securities mentioned by the Uruguayan president is the value of Social Justice, which is nothing more than the proper relationship between state powers and private corrections. The market and private initiative are considered indispensable guarantors of economic welfare and rights to individual freedom in this vision of the social market economy, not to mention literally or almost without knowing it is the position he is defending the President and already by Several cautioned and charged with liberalized. Yes, he is doing but not to excess, not to neoliberalism, but a social liberal, so it is not inventing anything new, just implemented an economic policy known and has been unsuccessful in Latin America because of its poor implementation, now the corruption, where special interests have prevailed over general , unlike the European experience, such as Germany.
Once in the Chair acknowledged that: "We found that rule was far more difficult than we thought, that fiscal resources are finite and infinite social demands that the bureaucracy has its own life, that macroeconomics is unpleasant but mandatory rules. "And his criticism of liberal democracy were decreased with time to admit "Nor are we in 1960, when the state had to put in everything. We are a balance. The state has to intervene, especially to force the social division. " Here it is emphasized that it was stated earlier, however state intervention in the economy to social redistribution is welcome in a liberal view while respecting the principle of subsidiarity, ie that the State acts to coordinate the private sector in order the common good while meeting the respect of economic freedom plus political and social freedom of individuals, and private property.
"It would be criminal not to learn of those aches and return to a cage and closed economy to the world. " This makes it clear that even with their social, not opt \u200b\u200bfor a closed economy and planned economy or an economy, recognizing that such savings were in the past and who are bent this way do nothing but harming themselves more to protect themselves.
In his inaugural speech as president demonstrates its vision of liberal economics when he states that: "A neat Macroeconomics is a prerequisite for everything else. We will be serious expenditure management, handling serious deficits, serious in monetary policy and that serious, dogs, in monitoring the financial system. Let me put it in a provocative way: we shall be orthodox in the macroeconomy. What we are going to make long, being unorthodox, innovative and daring in other ways. In particular, we have been active in the stimulus, what we call the intelligent agricultural country.. "In a country dependent on agricultural exports, defines his model as" Agro smart. "With an active state in terms trade promotion and international negotiations as well as scientific research and development of biotechnology. The Uruguayan agriculture is undergoing a technological revolution and business growing well above the rest of the country. And when he says an active state by the idea of \u200b\u200borthodoxy in macroeconomics, is definitely the definition of social liberalism.
recognizes the changing world and changing theory with the statement "The world is changing all the time And what's worse, each time changing the theory of how to build one better." Saying change theory refers to a paradigm change and ideological change, in particular that he is going to accompany the international context. Although not the same ideology that theory as "The ideologies are fed philosophical works and theories and present them in simpler terms and conditions for the action, "referring think of how to build a better world is thinking about a vision and interpretation of reality to propose a policy agenda to be implemented, and ultimately are elements of an ideology. Of the criticism that he has done for years to liberalism when he stood on the sidewalk opposite, socialism unwittingly adopted a synthesis of liberal ideas addressed by their social ideas. This is how his political program is distinct from its ideological orientation.
The governance as social liberalism
A clear observation is that Mujica President supports a neoliberal policy, which sees the state as the main obstacle to economic development of the market's invisible hand, it is an approach to social liberalism that seeks to promote individual freedom by ensuring that everyone enjoys equal opportunities life. In a post-Cold War context, the end of communism, despite the neo-socialist attempts to claim it in the region, while a dubious reign of capitalism into question by the recent global financial crisis, liberal ideas are prevailing in the international economy . The institutions of the multilateral trading system, these are the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the Organization Postulate World Trade ideals of economic liberalism and is promoted among Member States, ie from almost all states in the international arena. Would go against the current high costs to develop the country, that few can afford, as Venezuela has done with their petrodollars. However
is social liberalism rejects the idea of \u200b\u200bthe state as a necessary evil, but sees the need for an active state to help the most vulnerable people to have equal opportunities. This type of political programs have a special chapter on investment in education and employment policies that facilitate access to and quality of work, supported by the concept Decent Work International Labour Organization (ILO).
In the early days as president emphasized what its lines of action. "We should start by 4 subjects: education, energy, environment and security." These long-term policies with special attention to education. Education to improve the employability, education to strengthen democracy, education for equal opportunities. In the energy sector, primarily seeking autonomy, innovation of new clean energy for sustainable development. Regarding security, we can see that in the speech he gave in front of 1,500 domestic and foreign businessmen in the Conrad Punta del Este, stopped to mention public safety that would accrue to employers who decide to invest and live in Uruguay. This is perhaps to differentiate from other Latin American countries where kidnappings have become naturalized and assaults on businesses. The policy on justice and security is to maintain social and economic order to strengthen democracy and the economy.
However, his concern for the environment also mean government intervention which acknowledges that the market itself is unable to protect or naturally not be a concern of the free market. Moreover, beyond and highlights the potential conflict: "The tension between the protection of the environment and the expansion of production, will be increasing. We will be increasingly pulled between the promises of agricultural explosion, and threats associated with the intensive use of agrochemicals. "
both social liberalism and socialism seek social change and intervention policies pursued by the State Social Justice, one could argue that there is a convergence point conversion and led to the Uruguayan president's ideological evolution.
Among the proposals for reform of a liberal leader postulates River Plate are: reform fiscal institutions recommended by the multilateral trading system that have been mentioned, the reform of the state, political institutions, modernizing the state apparatus seeking efficiency concepts that are usually linked to the policies implemented by governments of the right.
insists that its proposed rule by which to secure not depend entirely on him, even in a strong presidential system, in making decisions is the role to be played by the body of lawmakers, ministers and the body of bureaucracy state, as well as public and private interests of civil society organizations, unions and business associations will lobby for some of the proposed measures are not carried out. "Presidents are not kings and do what they can and are imprisoned within a company with interest. Not only the policy rules, the game supports cross-linked policy interest that have divided America.
The recognition of the existence of the interests of intermediate bodies within the body politic than the State, is the evaluation of liberal democratic system, which gives value to community participation. Do not know which individuals are motivated by the pursuit of their interests, a concept that liberalism faces with socialism that thinks about the collective good over individual good. Part of this concept to reaffirm that the mission of politics is to reconcile individual interests with the public interest. That ideal of political participation coincides with the British philosopher John Stuart Mill that the private citizen participation in public affairs education, creates discipline, improved morale. Giovanni Sartori differentiate four notions of participatory democracy, 1) "participation in terms of interest, attention, information and expertise, which is what interpretation of this work refers in his speeches José Mujica, 2)" participation in support of "voice" that is followed in terms of democracy demonstrations ", represented here by the manifestations of civil society to use this medium to hear their demands, 3)" share power, real and effective participation in decision-making "this option closer to a semi-direct democracy does not coincides with the reality of Uruguay except in some areas of civil society participation as municipal or ministerial consultative forums but where the ruler or official transfers of power in just one part of the process of decision making that is deliberation and 4) "participation equivalent to a true direct democracy" that is the concept which refers to JS Mill when he said that was the ideal of government with the participation of the entire people and that does not reflect the reality of Uruguay but rather that of Switzerland. JS Mill anyway concludes that "when it exceeded the limits of a small town where no one can participate in person are a very small portion of public affairs ideal type of a perfect government is representative government."
All this analysis is to assert that when Jose "Pepe" Mujica regards the participation of citizens, representation of interests in decision-making, it also refers to a model of democracy that would be differentiated if embraced even the communist socialist ideal of the working class to power a government in power of the people of the ideal of liberal democracy that struggles between participatory democracy and representative democracy, the first option is to branch between the semi-direct democracy . And beyond the form of government which mark your preference, it is also defining the role of citizenship. Again we may conclude, also in purely political not only in economic policies that the President of Uruguay has evolved into a variant of liberalism.
Finally, we can not fail to mention that the call for unity of the Uruguayan people not match clearly a Marxist or socialist vision that proclaims that "every society is increasingly divided into two hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat." Mujica seeks to develop unity in social class, seeking equality of Uruguayan society without class resentment.
Finally, after seeing its ideological evolution starting with a radical socialism, social democracy through until a social liberalism, Jose Mujica in his political career has always been consistent marking his political vision with a priority: the Social Justice reign in the Uruguayan people.
speeches, articles, Bibliography and Webgraphy:
• http://www.pepetalcuales.com.uy
• Biography: CIDOB
http://www.cidob.org/es/documentacion/biografias_lideres_politicos/america_del_sur/uruguay/jose_mujica_cordano Agencia EFE
• "The Uruguayan candidate José Mujica stated" admirer "of Lula da Silva" - 10/09/2009
• Politics News Portal "Mujica said that he became more liberal''9/29/1906'' http://www.depolitica.com.uy/
• "I do not know what ideology have Kirchner" Interview with José Mujica in the Argentine daily La Nacion. 15/09/2009 http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1173730
• Remarks by President José Mujica to complete the process of negotiations between the Government and political parties with parliamentary representation. 07/06/1910. MP3
citizenship • Message from the President of the Republic, José Mujica, to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of José Artigas, 19 June. 19/06/1910. MP3
• Statements to the press by the President of the Republic, José Mujica, after the event at the Polo Tecnológico del Cerro. 17/06/1910. MP3
• Speech at the meeting with intellectuals, 29/04/2009 at the Legislative Palace.
• Speech by Mujica in the General Assembly. Inauguration of the Chair. March 1, 2010.
• Speech by President José Mujica after assuming the Presidency of the Republic in the Plaza Independencia March 1, 2010 • Speech act
Pepe Mujica launch campaign 05/03/2009
• Class Notes the chair of Professor Heiss Contemporary Political Theory , Claudia.
• Marx, Karl. ENGELS, Friedrich. 2001. Communist Manifesto. Madrid: Alianza
• HASSE, R, SCHNEIDER, H, Weigelt, K. "Dictionary of Social Market Economy." Konrad Adenauer Foundation .. Buenos Aires. 2008
• Giddens, Anthony. "The third way: The renewal of social democracy. " Taurus. Buenos Aires.
• EAGLE, Rafael (et al) 1988. Democracy in their texts. Madrid: Alianza.
