W
ho was Hugo Chavez? Mourned by
millions in Venezuela, demonised by
pro-capitalist western commentators, the
one thing all can agree upon is that his
name will not be quickly forgotten. At a
time when neoliberalism and austerity are
ravaging the lives of workers, youth and
the poor globally, many thousands have
drawn inspiration from Venezuela – seen
as a hopeful alternative to the politics of
misery that dominates internationally.
Chavez’s position as the modern world’s
most famous self-proclaimed ‘socialist’
has raised questions in the minds of
millions: Is Venezuela really an example
of ‘21st Century Socialism’? Are socialism
and democracy compatible? Why has he
drawn such scorn from the US and other
foreign powers? What was the Bolivarian
revolution? Could the Chavez model be
replicated elsewhere in the world? How
might a post-Chavez Venezuela look? Can
the aspirations of workers, youth and the
poor be realised in Latin America?
In this meeting we will be asking these
questions and discussing the real legacy
of Hugo Chavez. Unlike the commentary
typically offered in the pages of the big
newspapers, we will not be discussing
Chavez simply from the point of view of
analysing a personality. Instead we will
put his legacy within the context of the
movements that have taken place in
Venezuela and the broader processes at
work.
Despite slurs labelling Chavez a ‘dictator’,
European politicians must look on in
envy at the margins by which he has
won elections over the last 14 years. In
2002, a right-wing, US backed coup
was defeated by a mass uprising of
ordinary Venezuelans. Clearly, this
level of popular support is not the
kind that can be won through mere
charisma or flare. Instead, Chavez was
brought to power, and has been able to
maintain it, because of the potentially
revolutionary movement of the masses
that supported him. Reforms his regime
enacted, such as nationalisations
and partial nationalisations of major
companies,
massive
government
programmes to improve literacy and the
introduction a free healthcare service
stand as examples of the regime’s
biggest successes.
But while these reforms enjoyed big
popular support, and have been able
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to improve the lives of millions, it would
be untrue to claim that Chavez had
decisively broken with capitalism. In
fact, despite steps forward, poverty,
unemployment and the social problems
which typically arise from these continue
to plague much of the country. The
top-down governmental approach of
Chavez has created frustration amongst
many workers. Recent strikes have
faced repression from the state. These
frustrations will be the fuel the right wing
opposition hope they can galvanise in the
coming months and years.
This leaves us with perhaps the most
crucial questions to follow in the wake
of Chavez’s death. How can the working
class and poor now press forward the
revolutionary process – defeating the
right and taking control? How can a
genuine, democratic socialism be built –
in Venezuela, Latin America and around
the world?
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www.socialiststudents.org.uk
How might a post-Chavez Venezuela look?
Is Venezuela really an example of ‘21st Century Socialism’?
Why has he drawn such scorn from the US and other foreign powers?
Who was
Hugo Chavez?