City, as opposed to its weakening i, there is a certain it newal. A quite positiv and reconciliation with bourelement is the rediscov- geois thought. Marxism needs ery of the Frankfurt School. to confront current problems, to These is an evaluation by a new radicalise its critique of modergeneration of intellectuals from nity, of the paradigmas of westBurope, the United States, and ern, industrial, Latin Arperica, of the critique bourgeois, civilisation. which made it the western para- The ecological question is andigra of modernity. This implies other factor which radically ala despening anci radicalisation ters perspectives and also of Maxim, away from negativ- I re-invigorates the Marxist vision This is a process which has of the world. That is extremely important; we are questioning many ideas, like the development of productive forces being positive, or the domination of humans over nature forming modern, part of our emancipation from work. These ideas were inherited from the Enlightenment and the ideology of progress amongst Marxists, and are being questioned toxlay. more anchronistic, and its poThis has very important po litical consequences. The cur- ment, and the idea of dominarent ecological crisis is a dinect tion over nature. threat to the survival of every A re-evaluation is needed, but lifeform on the planet, not only one which leads to a radicalis to our little biped mammal ing of our critique of modern homo sapiens. This is a new industrial civilisation and a problem, which Marx and strengthening of opposition to Engels were unaware of. Be- it. There is sense of urgency in cause of this, we need to re this: our civilisation is leading Us view, for example, the concepts to a mass suicide. of productive force, progress, The second aspect is that there nently or temporarily excluded is a large underclass of people from production, consumption becoming marginalised by the and society as well. system. In Europe, as in the First There are people who make a World as a whole, there is now living from small businesses, as a large number of people living itinerant traders, as self emon the margins of society. The ployed, or from prostitution, uprising in Los Angeles is an crime, and the drugs trade;
everything is getting worse.
But the problem is much 'This is a big challenge not only greater in Latin America and the to the theory but also to the Third World as a whole. practice of liberation. The probToday it is clear that alongside lem is to get unity between the growth of the working class these groups of people, which I there is also a growing number call the 'pooretariat, with the of poor people, people penna- I organised working class.