XXI AMŽIAUS SOCIALIZMAS. KAS TAI?
SOCIALISM OF THE XXI TH CENTURY: WHAT IS IT?

Summary/Abstract: The concept „Socialism of XXIst century“ was first used by German sociologist, Professor Heinz Dieterich Steffan. In his two books „El Socialismo del Siglo XXI“ and „Hugo Chávez y el Socialismo del Siglo XXI“ as well as in many articles and interviews he described what new socialism should look like. It is mainly consist of 4 institutions. First of all, Equivalence economy, which should be based on Marxian labor theory of value and which is democratically determined by those who directly create value, instead of market-economical principles. Second institution of Socialism of XXIst century is majority democracy, which makes use of plebiscites, referendums to decide upon important questions that concern the whole society. Majority democracy is also based on democratic state institutions as legitimate representatives of the common interests of the majority of citizens, with a suitable protection of minority rights. The third component of new socialism is the critical and responsible subject, the rationally, ethically and aesthetically self-determined citizen. The last part of the Socialism of XXIst century is classless society. In foreign policy it is very important regional cooperation. On January 30, 2005, in a speech to the 5th World Social Forum, Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez announced that he supported the creation of socialism of the XXIst century in Venezuela. According to Chavez, this socialism would be different from the socialism of the XXth century. While Chavez was vague about exactly how this new socialism would be different, he implied it would not be a state socialism as was practiced in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe or as is practiced in Cuba today. Rather, it would be a socialism that would be more pluralistic and less state-centred. Despite that Chavez doesn’t exactly explain how he understands Socialism of the XXIst century all his reforms reflects the basic features of it. Chavez reforms can be divided to four groups: - Transformation of the state’s political regime; - Economical reforms; - Social reforms; - Foreign policy changes.

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