![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() On the other hand: knocking off two stars from this particular schmuck’s review because Bolívar appears to have has a pretty low estimation of ordinary people’s ability to participate in a full democracy. On the one hand: who am I to rate Simón Bolívar’s political writing, particularly for a manifesto that has been described as “one of the great documents of Latin American history”? I am just a schmuck with a very limited grasp of the pertinent knowledge(s) needed to truly evaluate this document. “Thus we were given philosophers for leaders, philanthropy for legislation, dialectic for tactics, and sophists for soldiers,” Bolívar writes. There is some thoughtful material here about the distance between the “benevolent visionaries” who called for and led revolution and their ability to actually manage, administer, govern, or realize their revolutionary ambitions. It does not use soaring language nor expend time on lofty ideals, but rather speaks unpretentiously, methodically, and accessibly to matters at hand. I’m struck by the very direct diction and tone here: unlike other revolutionary manifestos that I have read, this one is deeply practical. There is some thoughtful material here about the distance between t A succinct and (mostly) persuasive postmortem of the First Republic of Venezuela following its collapse and return to Spanish colonial control. A succinct and (mostly) persuasive postmortem of the First Republic of Venezuela following its collapse and return to Spanish colonial control. ![]()
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March 2023
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