Heinz Dieterich
Encyclopedia
Heinz Dieterich or Heinz Dieterich Steffan (born in 1943 in Rotenburg an der Wümme
) is a German
sociologist and a political analyst residing in Mexico
. He is better known for his leftist ideals. He contributes to several journals and has published more than 30 books about conflict in Latin America, global society and the ideological controversies that characterised the 20th century, among other philosophical and social scientific topics.
in Frankfurt
and Bremen
, Dieterich moved to Latin America
. Since 1977 he has been a professor in sociology and methodology at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
in Mexico, D.F.. Since then he has shown a lot of interest in politics and social movements in Latin America, and documented a great deal of their activity.
He is considered one of the most important figures in the "New School of Bremen" in sociology, constituted by Arno Peters
, Carsten Stahmer, and the Cuban physicist Raimundo Franco. This school implements principles of cybernetics
, quantum mechanics
and the "principle of equivalence" to sociology. In 1996, Steffan contributed to the creation of the alternative information website Rebelion.org
, where he contributes regularly.
anticapitalist leftist movements that followed the fall of the USSR. His contributions suggest an alternative economic, political and social project, which the alter-globalistic
movements lacked during the 1990’s.
In his book The Socialism of the 21st century
, Steffan explains the theoretical basis of the new socialism, which finds its most practical application in the revolutionary process of Venezuela
, and to a lesser extent in the neighbouring countries of Bolivia
and Ecuador
. Dieterich is an advisor of the Venezuelan government.
Some of his most important books are “Global Society” and “Latin America: From Colonization to Globalization”, which he wrote in cooperation with Noam Chomsky
.
His ideas have raised several controversies especially in Venezuela. The Marxist theoretician Alan Woods has written a whole book against his allegedly reformist positions, Reformism or Revolution - A Reply to Heinz Dieterich. However, his relationship with the Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez
has deteriorated essentially because of the lack of rigor with which Chávez understands and applies the concept of socialism. On 15 August 2011 he submitted an article to the website kaosenlared.net where he explains the reasons behind his definitive break-off with Chávez.
Rotenburg an der Wümme
Rotenburg an der Wümme is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Rotenburg.-Geography:...
) is a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
sociologist and a political analyst residing in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He is better known for his leftist ideals. He contributes to several journals and has published more than 30 books about conflict in Latin America, global society and the ideological controversies that characterised the 20th century, among other philosophical and social scientific topics.
Life
After completing his university studies in sociologySociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
and Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
, Dieterich moved to Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. Since 1977 he has been a professor in sociology and methodology at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
The Metropolitan Autonomous University is a public university located in Mexico City, Mexico...
in Mexico, D.F.. Since then he has shown a lot of interest in politics and social movements in Latin America, and documented a great deal of their activity.
He is considered one of the most important figures in the "New School of Bremen" in sociology, constituted by Arno Peters
Arno Peters
Arno Peters developed the Peters world map, based on the Gall–Peters projection.Born in Berlin, Germany, he began his career as a filmmaker who studied American techniques of filmmaking during the late 1930s, and helped to revolutionize film production in Germany at the time...
, Carsten Stahmer, and the Cuban physicist Raimundo Franco. This school implements principles of cybernetics
Cybernetics
Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems. Cybernetics is closely related to information theory, control theory and systems theory, at least in its first-order form...
, quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
and the "principle of equivalence" to sociology. In 1996, Steffan contributed to the creation of the alternative information website Rebelion.org
Rebelion.org
Rebelión is a nonprofit news site, started in Spain at the end of 1996 by a group of journalists. It contains scientific and opinion articles covering topics such as, current affairs, free knowledge, culture, ecology, economics, and resistance to globalization...
, where he contributes regularly.
Ideological Contributions
Steffan’s contributions represent one of the most relevant references to analyse the theoretical and practical implications of the MarxistMarxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
anticapitalist leftist movements that followed the fall of the USSR. His contributions suggest an alternative economic, political and social project, which the alter-globalistic
Alter-globalization
Alter-globalization is the name of a social movement that supports global cooperation and interaction, but which opposes the negative effects of economic globalization, feeling that it often works to the detriment of, or does not...
movements lacked during the 1990’s.
In his book The Socialism of the 21st century
Socialism of the 21st century
Socialism of the 21st century is a political term and a slogan coined by Heinz Dieterich in 1996. It was used by Hugo Chávez during a speech at the World Social Forum of 2005 and it has been publicised actively by Dieterich worldwide since 2000, especially in Latin America.-Bolivarian...
, Steffan explains the theoretical basis of the new socialism, which finds its most practical application in the revolutionary process of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, and to a lesser extent in the neighbouring countries of Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
and Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. Dieterich is an advisor of the Venezuelan government.
Some of his most important books are “Global Society” and “Latin America: From Colonization to Globalization”, which he wrote in cooperation with Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
.
His ideas have raised several controversies especially in Venezuela. The Marxist theoretician Alan Woods has written a whole book against his allegedly reformist positions, Reformism or Revolution - A Reply to Heinz Dieterich. However, his relationship with the Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
has deteriorated essentially because of the lack of rigor with which Chávez understands and applies the concept of socialism. On 15 August 2011 he submitted an article to the website kaosenlared.net where he explains the reasons behind his definitive break-off with Chávez.
External links
- Heinz Dieterich's section in Rebelión.org
- Heinz Dieterich's section in APORREA
- Heinz Dieterich's section in La Fogata
- Heinz Dieterich's section in "Kaos en la Red"
- Interview with Heinz Dieterich
- Interview with Heinz Dieterich (in English and German)
- Venezuela: where does Heinz Dieterich stand in the Constitutional referendum? A polemic from Alan Woods
- Ruptura con Hugo Chávez