‘Practice without theory is blind. Theory without practice is sterile. Theory becomes a material force as soon as it is absorbed by the masses. …. The Germans [Marxists who moved to the USA] have not understood how to use their theory as a lever which could set the American masses in motion; they do not understand the theory themselves for the most part and treat it in a doctrinaire and dogmatic way, as something which has got to be learned off by heart but which will then supply all needs without more ado. To them it is a credo and not a guide to action.’ (Marx, Karl (1872) Das Kapital. Vol. I. Preface).
I am the kind of Marxist who believes that while nearly all of Marx’s political praxis is outdated, he did make some observations, such as the one above, that are most apt given the manner in which the issue of national unity is at present treated in Guyana. The citizenry of this country is arguably more divided now than ever and must be getting pretty jaded with the perennial talk by the government, and indeed, the president himself, about the necessity for national unity/a social contract and so on.
Who among us will deny that ‘We can be one nation only if all sections of our population feel that they are an integral part of and share in our country’s development’ and that we need to ‘seize the opportunity to work for