Falando do "Homem Novo"

Tem estado a desenrolar-se aqui uma bastante rica e interessante troca de ideias, informacao e referencias sobre o conceito do "Homem Novo".

A exchange, que ja' vai longa e parece prometer vir a desembocar em alguma conferencia internacional ou similar forum sobre o tema, teve inicio na semana passada com esta mensagem:

Would anyone be able to advise me of sources of information about the Marxist concept of the 'new man' and of its development in the ideology and literature of the MPLA between the 1960s and 1980s, please?
Any suggestions would be very deeply appreciated.

[Mark Sabine, Nottingham University]

Seguiram-se varios e valiosos contributos, embora a esmagadora maioria se refira a FRELIMO, dos quais, com a devida venia aos seus autores e aos editores da H-Net, tomo a liberdade de reproduzir aqui os que se seguem. Talvez alguns dos leitores deste blog possam possuir mais informacoes e referencias que queiram partilhar, com referencia particular ao caso de Angola.

De minha parte, gostaria de fazer referencia a este post em que me refiro, en passant, ao "homem novo que veio da mata", e tambem a este , a este e a este em relacao a algumas das questoes abordadas na primeira mensagem abaixo reproduzida. Relativamente a segunda mensagem, faria apenas breve referencia a um dos fundadores da UNAP, que foi amigo e pupilo de Viteix (infelizmente ambos ja' falecidos), o Tirso Amaral, que esteve tambem no Festival Mundial da Juventude e Estudantes de 1978 em Cuba, referido em algumas das mensagens dessa exchange (os quadros de Viteix aqui reproduzidos sao retirados do site da autora dessa mensagem, sendo que das 'margens' do segundo este blog ja' fez amplo uso na sua versao original...).

Whatever is the origin of the concept of "New Man" in the 1920s Soviet Revolution and fast moving to Stalinization, most important seems to be the social usefullness of such a concept in Frelimo politics. Obviously, "New man" was integrated into the "socialist" discourse, but it must be seen first as the ideological expression of the paradigm of authoritarian modernization process (locally called 'socialist transition'). Frelimo always feared (and still fears) all social milieus it does not control.
During the 'radical' period (1976-1986), the 'newmanness' was the wish to integrate quickly all the traditional and original social relationships into the 'modernity' as seen by the Frelimo elite: to transform the ethnicities into a fully new nation ('Uma só nação, um só povo, um só partido'), the peasants in inhabitants of 'rural cities' (alias 'aldeias comunais'), to transform all the informal sector of cities into officially registered workers ('Operação Produção' tried to expell from the cities this informal sector), to eradicate traditional religions ('obscurantismo'). 'Newmanness' was the expression of the habitus of assimilated rooted elite of Frelimo, whose radicality was far more to modernize than to socialize. Today, means have changed, but not the aim: the Guebuza's discourse about 'auto-estima' (self-pride) is to stigmatize anyone not able to become an entrepreneur and a rich man, and to raise as a model the big man. The guilty is no longer subalternity of Mozambique in capitalist world economy, but the lack of dignity of the ones who remain poor. They are not modern, not new.

[Michel Cahen, Centre d'étude d'Afrique noire, Université de Bordeaux]

The 'new man' is also mentioned in the inaugural proclamation of the União Nacional de Artistas Plásticos (Unap) in 1979- in terms of and art philosophy and pedagogy that uses indigeneity as a catalyst of the transformation of consciousness, or "mentality." The founding artists of Unap, like their counterparts in the Writers' Union, were very moved by Neto's claims that the superstructure of a society shape the consciousness of the individual within that society. I'm curious about this relationship between Latin American scholars' ideas of the new man with regards to indigeneity versus those writing from/about the African context- and what contingencies contribute to the differences.
[...]
This discussion is very exciting for me as I am currently writing an article on Angolan post-independence painter Viteix and his adaptation of socialist realism. One
particular painting, Construção Civil(1985), illustrates workers as integrated into machinery or a construction scene. However, the title refers to a poem by António Cardoso (also titled Construção Civil) in which he describes the rationalist built environment of the prison camp Tarrafal. He gives a visceral description of the walls as bathed in blood. Viteix use of this poem checks the notion of progress, an element of irony in the message of the painting that testifies to the complicated relationship thinkers had to international, or "scientific," socialist realism.Viteix was co-author of the Unap proclamation I mentioned earlier that uses the term "New Man." The painting is reproduced on my
website (with apologies for the clunky translation of Cardoso's poem there)

[Delinda Collier - School of the Art Institute of Chicago]

Tem estado a desenrolar-se aqui uma bastante rica e interessante troca de ideias, informacao e referencias sobre o conceito do "Homem Novo".

A exchange, que ja' vai longa e parece prometer vir a desembocar em alguma conferencia internacional ou similar forum sobre o tema, teve inicio na semana passada com esta mensagem:

Would anyone be able to advise me of sources of information about the Marxist concept of the 'new man' and of its development in the ideology and literature of the MPLA between the 1960s and 1980s, please?
Any suggestions would be very deeply appreciated.

[Mark Sabine, Nottingham University]

Seguiram-se varios e valiosos contributos, embora a esmagadora maioria se refira a FRELIMO, dos quais, com a devida venia aos seus autores e aos editores da H-Net, tomo a liberdade de reproduzir aqui os que se seguem. Talvez alguns dos leitores deste blog possam possuir mais informacoes e referencias que queiram partilhar, com referencia particular ao caso de Angola.

De minha parte, gostaria de fazer referencia a este post em que me refiro, en passant, ao "homem novo que veio da mata", e tambem a este , a este e a este em relacao a algumas das questoes abordadas na primeira mensagem abaixo reproduzida. Relativamente a segunda mensagem, faria apenas breve referencia a um dos fundadores da UNAP, que foi amigo e pupilo de Viteix (infelizmente ambos ja' falecidos), o Tirso Amaral, que esteve tambem no Festival Mundial da Juventude e Estudantes de 1978 em Cuba, referido em algumas das mensagens dessa exchange (os quadros de Viteix aqui reproduzidos sao retirados do site da autora dessa mensagem, sendo que das 'margens' do segundo este blog ja' fez amplo uso na sua versao original...).

Whatever is the origin of the concept of "New Man" in the 1920s Soviet Revolution and fast moving to Stalinization, most important seems to be the social usefullness of such a concept in Frelimo politics. Obviously, "New man" was integrated into the "socialist" discourse, but it must be seen first as the ideological expression of the paradigm of authoritarian modernization process (locally called 'socialist transition'). Frelimo always feared (and still fears) all social milieus it does not control.
During the 'radical' period (1976-1986), the 'newmanness' was the wish to integrate quickly all the traditional and original social relationships into the 'modernity' as seen by the Frelimo elite: to transform the ethnicities into a fully new nation ('Uma só nação, um só povo, um só partido'), the peasants in inhabitants of 'rural cities' (alias 'aldeias comunais'), to transform all the informal sector of cities into officially registered workers ('Operação Produção' tried to expell from the cities this informal sector), to eradicate traditional religions ('obscurantismo'). 'Newmanness' was the expression of the habitus of assimilated rooted elite of Frelimo, whose radicality was far more to modernize than to socialize. Today, means have changed, but not the aim: the Guebuza's discourse about 'auto-estima' (self-pride) is to stigmatize anyone not able to become an entrepreneur and a rich man, and to raise as a model the big man. The guilty is no longer subalternity of Mozambique in capitalist world economy, but the lack of dignity of the ones who remain poor. They are not modern, not new.

[Michel Cahen, Centre d'étude d'Afrique noire, Université de Bordeaux]

The 'new man' is also mentioned in the inaugural proclamation of the União Nacional de Artistas Plásticos (Unap) in 1979- in terms of and art philosophy and pedagogy that uses indigeneity as a catalyst of the transformation of consciousness, or "mentality." The founding artists of Unap, like their counterparts in the Writers' Union, were very moved by Neto's claims that the superstructure of a society shape the consciousness of the individual within that society. I'm curious about this relationship between Latin American scholars' ideas of the new man with regards to indigeneity versus those writing from/about the African context- and what contingencies contribute to the differences.
[...]
This discussion is very exciting for me as I am currently writing an article on Angolan post-independence painter Viteix and his adaptation of socialist realism. One
particular painting, Construção Civil(1985), illustrates workers as integrated into machinery or a construction scene. However, the title refers to a poem by António Cardoso (also titled Construção Civil) in which he describes the rationalist built environment of the prison camp Tarrafal. He gives a visceral description of the walls as bathed in blood. Viteix use of this poem checks the notion of progress, an element of irony in the message of the painting that testifies to the complicated relationship thinkers had to international, or "scientific," socialist realism.Viteix was co-author of the Unap proclamation I mentioned earlier that uses the term "New Man." The painting is reproduced on my
website (with apologies for the clunky translation of Cardoso's poem there)

[Delinda Collier - School of the Art Institute of Chicago]

UK: The return of Socialism?

Tomorrow is general election day here in the UK.
At the national level, although things are said to be still unpredictable, it looks like the Tories are about to reclaim power from Labour after more than a decade in opposition.
At the local level, I was pleased the other day to receive a visit by one of the local Councillors, the young Matt Sanders, whose first introduction to me was through the letter I commented on this post. We had a brief talk during which I assured him that “I quite like your team”…
Well, his team, the local Lib Dems, is headed by one Jo Shaw who is set against Frank Dobson (currently London’s longest-serving Labour MP and one of the “two prominent MPs” I referred to in the above-mentioned post) to represent this area in Westminster. I also quite like Frank Dobson, so I wish them both the best – which, unfortunately, in this case can only occur if both lose to some other candidate…
Then, there are the oddities. Like one John Chapman (could he be that other candidate?…) – Independent, 33 years a Whitehall civil servant and diplomat, 13 years a double award winning financial journalist – who has been campaigning “For a National Recovery and Redistribution Plan”!

It goes like this:

His diagnostic of the UK economy:

The financial crisis has given us the biggest budget deficit in the West. Our government let in the culprits, notable the hedge funds, to boost the City. Disgracefully, the UK is now blocking an EU directive to regulate them.

The huge earnings of US speculators have led the City into bloated bonuses. Earnings of chief executives of our top 100 companies have risen to 81 times the average wage, from 47 times in 2000 (CBI).

The Thatcher years made us a most unequal society. In the USA incomes of the top fifth of people are 8.5 times those of the bottom fifth. In the UK, the ratio is 7.2, France 5.6, Germany 5.2, Sweden 3.8 and Japan 3.4 (UN). Social costs, from feelings of inadequacy to violent crime, rise with inequality.

Manufacturing’s share of our economy has fallen from 26% in 1979 to 12%. Companies are crippled by short-termism – City preference for dividends over investment. Our research & development as a proportion of GDP is now 30% below Germany, 40% below USA, and 50% below Japan (Batelle).

The NHS is under-funded. UK spend on health is 8.4% of GDP, below the 9.7% average of 15 West European countries. We have 2.5 doctors per 1000 people, the West European average is 50% higher at 3.7 per 1000 (OECD).

The pupil/teacher ratio of our state secondary schools is 15, the West European average is 11. Our private schools have a ratio of only 7 (OECD).

Our state pension is the lowest in Europe (Aon). But our military spend is higher than Russia. We invaded Iraq “largely for oil” (Alan Greenspan).

His Plan:

A huge Budget deficit. A discredited City. Weekened manufacturing. Under-resourced health, education and pensions. Doubtful wars. Alarming inequality.

The “efficient markets” model no longer works – because of unregulated financiers, and because “Across the world, the free market is being overtaken by state capitalism” (US Council on Foreign Relations), from China, Russia, the Middle East, and South American countries like Brazil and Venezuela.

We need a government of all parties to tackle our crisis, bolstered by industrialists, businessmen, union leaders, consultants and the professions.

We need a 5 year National Plan to rescue Britain and make it fairer. Indicative plans for each sector should be made coherent by a National Planning Department, replacing the failed Treasury. Merited taxes should also avoid savage expenditure cuts that shed jobs and reduce services.

Reforming the City A tax on banks, and a tax on the privileged hedge funds. A tax on dividends where companies have R&D below international levels.

Reducing Inequality A wealth tax of 2%, as in France and Switzerland. An excessive earnings tax, with earnings over £1m at 60%, over £2m at 75%. Inheritance tax at 60% for estates over £5m, and 75% for estates over £10m.

New state/private British companies to compete with state capitalism
State equity companies to strengthen private companies to help medium-seized companies grow into world players, to develop green technologies, to boost employment and the work ethic, and to revive the “Made in Britain” label.

Public expenditure and public services
More hospitals, more doctors and more teachers to match international levels. A levy on private schools for their disproportionate use of teaching resources. Higher state pensions for lowly paid to avoid means testing of their savings. Less military expenditure. Support nuclear cut-backs by no to Trident. Leave Afghanistan. More control over North Sea oil instead of further wars for oil.

Tomorrow is general election day here in the UK.
At the national level, although things are said to be still unpredictable, it looks like the Tories are about to reclaim power from Labour after more than a decade in opposition.
At the local level, I was pleased the other day to receive a visit by one of the local Councillors, the young Matt Sanders, whose first introduction to me was through the letter I commented on this post. We had a brief talk during which I assured him that “I quite like your team”…
Well, his team, the local Lib Dems, is headed by one Jo Shaw who is set against Frank Dobson (currently London’s longest-serving Labour MP and one of the “two prominent MPs” I referred to in the above-mentioned post) to represent this area in Westminster. I also quite like Frank Dobson, so I wish them both the best – which, unfortunately, in this case can only occur if both lose to some other candidate…
Then, there are the oddities. Like one John Chapman (could he be that other candidate?…) – Independent, 33 years a Whitehall civil servant and diplomat, 13 years a double award winning financial journalist – who has been campaigning “For a National Recovery and Redistribution Plan”!

It goes like this:

His diagnostic of the UK economy:

The financial crisis has given us the biggest budget deficit in the West. Our government let in the culprits, notable the hedge funds, to boost the City. Disgracefully, the UK is now blocking an EU directive to regulate them.

The huge earnings of US speculators have led the City into bloated bonuses. Earnings of chief executives of our top 100 companies have risen to 81 times the average wage, from 47 times in 2000 (CBI).

The Thatcher years made us a most unequal society. In the USA incomes of the top fifth of people are 8.5 times those of the bottom fifth. In the UK, the ratio is 7.2, France 5.6, Germany 5.2, Sweden 3.8 and Japan 3.4 (UN). Social costs, from feelings of inadequacy to violent crime, rise with inequality.

Manufacturing’s share of our economy has fallen from 26% in 1979 to 12%. Companies are crippled by short-termism – City preference for dividends over investment. Our research & development as a proportion of GDP is now 30% below Germany, 40% below USA, and 50% below Japan (Batelle).

The NHS is under-funded. UK spend on health is 8.4% of GDP, below the 9.7% average of 15 West European countries. We have 2.5 doctors per 1000 people, the West European average is 50% higher at 3.7 per 1000 (OECD).

The pupil/teacher ratio of our state secondary schools is 15, the West European average is 11. Our private schools have a ratio of only 7 (OECD).

Our state pension is the lowest in Europe (Aon). But our military spend is higher than Russia. We invaded Iraq “largely for oil” (Alan Greenspan).

His Plan:

A huge Budget deficit. A discredited City. Weekened manufacturing. Under-resourced health, education and pensions. Doubtful wars. Alarming inequality.

The “efficient markets” model no longer works – because of unregulated financiers, and because “Across the world, the free market is being overtaken by state capitalism” (US Council on Foreign Relations), from China, Russia, the Middle East, and South American countries like Brazil and Venezuela.

We need a government of all parties to tackle our crisis, bolstered by industrialists, businessmen, union leaders, consultants and the professions.

We need a 5 year National Plan to rescue Britain and make it fairer. Indicative plans for each sector should be made coherent by a National Planning Department, replacing the failed Treasury. Merited taxes should also avoid savage expenditure cuts that shed jobs and reduce services.

Reforming the City A tax on banks, and a tax on the privileged hedge funds. A tax on dividends where companies have R&D below international levels.

Reducing Inequality A wealth tax of 2%, as in France and Switzerland. An excessive earnings tax, with earnings over £1m at 60%, over £2m at 75%. Inheritance tax at 60% for estates over £5m, and 75% for estates over £10m.

New state/private British companies to compete with state capitalism
State equity companies to strengthen private companies to help medium-seized companies grow into world players, to develop green technologies, to boost employment and the work ethic, and to revive the “Made in Britain” label.

Public expenditure and public services
More hospitals, more doctors and more teachers to match international levels. A levy on private schools for their disproportionate use of teaching resources. Higher state pensions for lowly paid to avoid means testing of their savings. Less military expenditure. Support nuclear cut-backs by no to Trident. Leave Afghanistan. More control over North Sea oil instead of further wars for oil.