Hugo Chávez

Introduction

• President of Venezuela in 1998

• A passionately disputed personality

Introduction

• A liberator who fights for Latin American integration and against imperialism, neoliberalism and poverty

• An authoritarian demagogue who threatens Venezuela's economy and democracy, meddles in the affairs of other Latin American countries, and exacerbates international tensions 

Introduction

• A threat to Latin America’s future ?

• A thriving force for a better future on the Latin America continent ?

• Do the US have reasons to fear Hugo Chávez ?

Introduction

Who is Hugo Chávez ?

SUMMARY

Introduction

I. Biography

II. Chávez’s domestic policy

III. Chávez’s foreign policy

IV. US reactions

V. Chávez’s popularity

Conclusion: Chávez, a threat?

I. Biography

• Born in 1954• Educated at the Military Academy of Venezuela.

• A career army officer, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

I. Biography

• 1992 : participated in an unsuccessful coup against President Carlos Andrés Pérez

• 1992-1994: imprisoned• 1997: creation of the Fifth Republic movement (Movimiento V (Quinta) Republica, MVR)

• 1998: President (56% of the votes)

I. Biography

• A peaceful social revolution to help Venezuela’s poor majority

• 1999: creation of a constitutional assembly to draft a new constitution

I. Biography

• Main changes :

1) The change of the Republic’s name2) More power for the president3) Less power for the legislative and judicial institutions4) Guarantee of Human Rights

I. Biography

• Referendum: constitution passed with 71,78% of the votes

• 2000: re-elected President (59,5% of the votes)

• 2004: a recall referendum (58,91% of the Venezuelans against his recall, 40,60%, for 0,49% null and void)

II. Chávez’s domestic policy

1) Aim: Implementation of Bolivarism

• 6 political components:

1. Venezuelan economic and political sovereignty2. Grassroots political participation of the population throughpopular votes and referenda3. Economic self-sufficiency (in food, consumer durables…) 4. Instilling in people a national ethic of patriotic service5. Equitable distribution of Venezuela's vast oil revenues6. Eliminating corruption

II. Chávez’s domestic policy

2) Concrete measures

• Many referenda• Bolivarian Missions (a series of social programmes whose stated goals are to combat disease, illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty, and other social ills)

• Bolivarian Circles • Measures against corruption

II. Chávez’s domestic policy

3) Criticisms

• Authoritarian direction abandoning democratic traditions

• Rampant corruption • A threefold higher murder rate • Controversial poverty and unemployment figures

III. Chávez’s foreign policy

1) Latin American integration

• Integration model strongly opposed to the neoliberal model (against the FTAA)• Own regional integration mechanism : the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (2001)

III. Chávez’s foreign policy

• Petrocaribe: a Carribbean oil alliance with Venezuela to purchase their oil on conditions of preferential payment (June 2005)

• Telesur : a pan- Latin American television network

a counterweight to networks like CNN (December 2005)

III. Chávez’s foreign policy

• Other projects:

- Petrosur- A gas pipeline from

Venezuela to Argentina- Bank of the South- A common Latin American Currency

III. Chávez’s foreign policy

2) Fight against imperialism and neoliberalism

• The main target: the US• Many criticisms against the US-policy (e.g. Iraq, Haiti)

• Strategic alliances

India

Russia

China

Cuba

Venezuela will “stay by Iran at any time and under any condition”

Chavez

“I feel I have met a brother and trench mate after meeting Chavez”

Ahmadinejad

Iran

IV. US-reactions

1) Massive accusations

• Threat of a second Cuba

• Venezuela portrayed as a threat to international peace and a negative force in the region

IV. US-reactions2) Offensive measures

• Searching for support from Venezuela’s neighbours (bilateral trade agreements, military bases, joint military operations)

• High activism to avoid election of potential new allies

• Opposition to Venezuelan arms purchases

• Support for domestic opposition

V. Chávez’s popularity

A) In Venezuela

• Increasing popularity among the poor

• Growing Opposition (e.g. Coup in April, 2002)

V. Chávez’s popularity

B) In Latin America

• Sympathy among neighbouring countries

-> integration into the Mercosur (December 2005) -> bilateral agreements

Chávez, Kirchner, Lula

V. Chávez’s popularity

• No real support from the newly leftist politicians

• Only two key allies on the continent: Fidel Castro and Evo Morales

• Setbacks in Peru and Mexico

V. Chávez’s popularity

C) Internationally • Gained sympathy around the world

=>The symbol of resistance against neoliberalism and US hegemony

V. Chávez’s popularity

• Resounding success at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre (Jan. 2005)

• Chávez’s speech to the opening of the 61st UN General Assembly greeted with applause (Sept. 2006)

V. Chávez’s popularity

• Failure to gain a non permanent seat on the UN Security Council

=> Mixed success in the international arena

Conclusion: Hugo Chávez, a threat ?

• US have failed thus far to isolate Chávez diplomatically

Conclusion: Hugo Chávez, a threat ?

Failure of Chávez’s « oil diplomacy »

Conclusion: Hugo Chávez, a threat ?

=>No high popularity, especially among Latin American politicians

=> No threat of a « Chavez wave »

=> No massive loss of US influence on the continent

Conclusion: Hugo Chávez, a threat ?

• Opportunity for the US to keep their influence on the continent

• One condition: negociations on equal terms

Conclusion: Hugo Chávez, a threat ?

• A threat to his own country

- Radicalisation of the regime- A hostile climate for foreign investment

- Economic development based on the oil industry

Conclusion: Hugo Chávez, a threat ?

References

• The Economist (Sept 28th 2006, August 31th 2006, June 8th 2006, Jul 28th 2005, June 9th 2004,)

• Courrier International (Nov 9th 2006, Jan 19th 2006, Nov 13th 2003)

• Le Monde diplomatique (March 2005, April 2004,Nov 2000)

• Vocable (Nov 16-29th 2006)

• www.venezuelananalysis.com• www.risal.collectif.net• www.guardian.co.uk• www.news.bbc.co.uk• www.lateinamerikanachrichten.de• www.en.wikipedia.org