ebook img

Hugo Chavez's 21st Century Socialism as a Counter-Hegemonic Challenge to American Supremacy PDF

117 Pages·2014·1.39 MB·English
by  
Save to my drive
Quick download
Download
Most books are stored in the elastic cloud where traffic is expensive. For this reason, we have a limit on daily download.

Preview Hugo Chavez's 21st Century Socialism as a Counter-Hegemonic Challenge to American Supremacy

Faculty of Humanities School of Social Sciences Department of International Relations The Voice of the Barrios: Hugo st Chavez’s 21 Century Socialism as a Counter-Hegemonic Challenge to American Supremacy Done by: Nabeelah Patel Student Number: 349864 Supervisor: Dr Vishwas Satgar Date: 2014-07-30 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction………………………………..…………………….…….Page 5 Venezuela: Brief Background………………………………………….….Page 6 Aim and Rationale………………………………………………………....Page 9 Research Questions ………………………………………………………..Page 12 Sub Questions………………………………………………………Page 12 Hypothesis………………………………………………………………….Page 12 Chapter 2: Theory and Literature Review………………………………………….Page 13 Theory Review……………………………………………………………..Page 14 Neo-Gramscian Theory………………………………………….....Page 14 Counter-Hegemony………………………………………...Page 15 The Resource Curse Theory……………………….Page 16 St 21 Century Socialism…………………………….Page 17 Supremacy…………………………………………………Page 18 Social Forces……………………………………………....Page 20 Literature Review………………………………………………………….Page 21 The Political Rise of Chavez……………………………………….Page 22 Social Changes Made by Chavez…………………………………..Page 23 Chavez Influence in Latin America………………………………..Page 25 st Is Chavez’s 21 Century Socialism Counter-Hegemonic to US Supremacy? …………………………………………..…….Page 27 All Opposed………………………………………………………..………Page 27 Conclusion………………………………………………………..………..Page 29 Chapter 3: Methodology…………………………………………………………...Page 31 Methodology……………………………………………………………….Page 32 Primary Sources……………………………………………………………Page 33 Secondary Sources…………………………………………………………Page 34 Independent Variable………………………………………………………Page 35 Dependent Variable………………………………………………………..Page 35 2 | P a g e Constraints to the Research…………………………………………………Page 35 Chapter 4: Hugo Chavez: Life and Political Career………………………………...Page 37 Who was Hugo Chavez? …………………………………………………....Page 38 Military Career……………………………………………………...……….Page 39 The 1992 Failed Coup Attempt ……………………………………………..Page 42 The 1998 Venezuelan Elections…………………………………………….Page 43 The Constitution of Venezuela……………………………………………...Page 44 History of Constitutional Reform………………………………….. Page 44 The Formation of the New Venezuelan Constitution……………… Page 46 Changes in the New Constitution…………………………………... Page 47 Venezuela-United States Relations………………………………………… Page 50 The 2002 Coup Against Chavez……………………………………………..Page 50 Declining Health and Death………………………………………………... Page 53 st Chapter 5: 21 Century Socialism and the Social Changes Implemented by Hugo Chavez…………………………………………….……......Page 56 Introduction……………………………………………………….……….. Page 57 st Defining 21 Century Socialism……………………………….………… ..Page 57 The Social and Economic Changes Made by Hugo Chavez……………….Page 59 Education……………………………………………….…………. Page 59 Health Care Reforms………………………………….……………Page 62 Poverty Reduction………………………………….………………Page 64 Eradication of the Food Crisis…………………….…………….….Page 67 Diversifications of the Economy…………………..…………….…Page 69 Nationalisations………………………………….…………………Page 70 Increasing the Minimum wage…………………..…………...…….Page 71 Conclusion……………………………………………………………….....Page 73 st Chapter 6: The Influence of Hugo Chavez and 21 Century Socialism in Latin America……………………………………………………….…Page 75 Introduction………………………………………………………….Page 76 3 | P a g e Chavez’s Influence in Latin America……………………………………….Page 76 The Bolivarian Alternative for the People of Our America (ALBA)……....Page 81 The Main Objectives of ALBA………………………….…………Page 82 The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)………………..……..Page 85 The Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR)……………….……....Page 87 Brief History of MERCOSUR……………………………….……Page 87 Venezuela and MERCOSUR…………………………….………..Page 88 Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC)…........Page 90 st The Influence of Hugo Chavez and 21 Century Socialism in Bolivia........Page 94 st The Influence of Hugo Chavez and 21 Century Socialism in Argentina...Page 97 Attempts to Destroy the Bolivarian Revolution……………………….….Page 98 Chapter 7: Conclusion…………………………………………………………......Page 101 Reference List………………………………………………………………..........Page 111 4 | P a g e Chapter 1 Introduction 5 | P a g e Introduction “I am convinced that the path to a new, better and possible world is not capitalism, the path is socialism” Hugo Chávez Venezuela – Brief Background Venezuela is located at the northern coast of South America on the Caribbean Sea. It is one third larger than the state of Texas in the United States with a land area of 882,050 sq. km1 and a total area of 912,050 sq. km 2. Venezuela is bordered by Columbia to its west, Guyana to the East and Brazil to the South. Venezuela has a range of mountains that separate the nation into four distinct areas namely: the Maracaibo lowla nds, the mountainous region in the north and northwest, the Orinoco basin, with the llanos (vast grass - covered plains) on its northern border and great forest areas in the south and southeast and the Guiana Highlands, south of the Orinoco, accounting for n early half the national territory 3. Venezuela’s population is estimated at 28 047 938 people as per the statistics taken in 20124. Their population’s growth rate rests at 1.468% and the population density is 77 people per square mile5. The capital of Venez uela is Caracas, a city of 6 474 367 people in the metro area 6. Some of the largest cities in Venezuela are Maracaibo, Valencia and Barquisimeto. Being a former Spanish colony , Venezuelans adopted the language 7. Spanish is still spoken in Venezuela as the home language. Since it’s been colonised, Venezuela has had one of the most interesting tales in world history. Their history includes a series of dictators and two esteemed revolutionaries. 1 FactMonster, Venezuela, http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0108140.html, last accessed on 2014-02-05 2 The University of Texas, Lecture: Oil and Gas in Latin America, http://www.utdallas.edu/~pujana/latin/PDFS/Lecture%2012-%20LAoil.pdf, last accessed on 2014-02-05 3 FactMonster, Venezuela, http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0108140.html, last accessed on 2014-02-05 4 Manuela, J., Venezuela, 25 November 2013, http://prezi.com/tpvmlkj5tkvl/venezuela/, last accessed on 2014-02-05 5 FactMonster, Venezuela, http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0108140.html, last accessed on 2014-02-05 6 Ibid 7 Manuela, J., Venezuela, 25 November 2013, http://prezi.com/tpvmlkj5tkvl/venezuela/, last accessed on 2014-02-05 6 | P a g e In 1498, Columbus explored Venezuela, which was then primarily inhabited by Arawak, 8 Carib and Chibcha Indians . A Spanish explorer named the nation “Venezuela” which 9 10 means “Little Venice” . The capital city of Caracas was founded in 1567 . An extremely important historical figure was born in Caracas in 1783 . Simon Bolivar was a Venezuelan born liberator that did not only succeed in liberating Venezuela but several other South American states as well. With the efforts of Simon Bolivar, Venezuela was the first South 11 American nation to revolt against colonial i mperialism in 1830 . These revolts did not have the most positive consequences. A long series of dictators ruled in Venezuela for many years. Between 1870 and 1888, Antonio Guzman Blanco governed the Latin 12 American nation . During his time as governor, he developed Venezuelan infrastructure, expanded the agricultural sector and invited foreign investment. 13 The dictator, General Juan Vicente Gomez, ruled Venezuela between 1908 and 1935 . During this era, Venezuela began exporting its oil and became one of th e major oil exporters in the world. After Gomez’s death, Venezuela was ruled by a military junta. The Democratic Action Party with the leftist leader, Dr. Romulo Betancourt won the majority number of seats in a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution for the 14 country in 1946 . A c andidate from Betancourt’s party and well known author, Romulo Gallegos, became 15 the first democratically elected leader in Venezuela in 1947 . His presidency lasted a mere 8 months before he was overthrown by a military c oup led by Marcos Perez 16 17 Jimenez . By 1958, Jimenez was also ousted . Venezuela has been one of the most stable democracies in South America and the Latin American region since 1959. 18 Betancourt served as president from 1959 to 1964 . After his reign, Rafael Caldera 8 FactMonster, Venezuela, http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0108140.html, last accessed on 2014-02-05 9 USF College of Education, Venezuela: Little Venice, http://www.coedu.usf.edu/culture/Story/Story_Venezuela.htm, last accessed on 2014-02-05 10 Geographia.com, Caracas, http://www.geographia.com/Venezuela/caracas/index.htm , last accessed on 2014 - 01 - 30 11 Gott, Richard., Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution, London: Verso, 2011 12 FactMonster, Venezuela, http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0108140.html, last accessed on 2014-02-05 13 McBeth, B. S., Juan Vicente Gomez and the Oil Companies in Venezuela, 1908-1935, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 1983, p. 282 14 Ibid 15 FactMonster, Venezuela, http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0108140.html, last accessed on 2014-02-05 16 Ibid 17 Ibid 18 Adams, Jerome, R., Liberators, Patriots and Leaders of Latin America: 32 Biographies, North Carolina: Mcfarland and Company, 2010 7 | P a g e 19 Rodriguez was president from 1969-1974 . During his term in office, he legalized the Communist Party and established diplomatic relations with Moscow. Carlos Andres Perez took office in 1974 and in 1976 the Venezuela government 20 nationalized fore ign - owned oil and steel companies . Venezuela benefitted from the oil boom in the 70s. Despite the large revenues received from oil wealth, the majority of Venezuelans were still extremely poor. Economies were not diversified and there were no 21 social devel opments. By 1978 Luis Herrera Campins became president . During this time 22 oil prices declined which had a huge negative impact on the Venezuela economy . The oil bust increased the foreign debt of Venezuela. In 1988, Perez was re - elected as 23 president when he launched a highly unpopular austerity program . There were 2 unsuccessful coups against Perez in 1992 and not long after the Venezuelan Congress 24 impeached President Perez on corruption charges . In December 1993 Rafael Caldera 25 Rodriguez was elected pres ident . His presidency came with a huge deficit as half of Venezuela’s banking sector collapsed, oil prices had fallen, there was a lot to be paid in foreign debt and the country was experiences a very high inflation. This resulted in poverty and extreme poverty increases countrywide especially in Venezuela’s barrios. Recognition of the mistreatment of the poor, uneven distribution of wealth and the lack of social development was recognized by socialist revolutionary Hugo Chavez. His presidential campaign was aimed at liberating the poor in Venezuela and liberating Venezuela from the clutches of the American empire. Using this philosophy in his campaigns, he gained support from the majority of the poor Venezuelans which won him the 1998 Venezuelan elections by a landslide. Venezuela was since then ruled by a socialist leader that went against the dictates of Washington. This was to the dismay of every American leader and senior official since the Chavez era began. “I hereby accuse the North American Empire of being the biggest menace on the planet” 19 FactMonster, Venezuela, http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0108140.html, last accessed on 2014-02-05 20 Gott, Richard., Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution, London: Verso, 2011 21 Adams, Jerome, R., Liberators, Patriots and Leaders of Latin America: 32 Biographies, North Carolina: Mcfarland and Company, 2010, p. 357 22 Ibid, 359 23 Riding, Alan., MAN IN THE NEWS; Venezuelan and Winner: Carlos Andres Perez, 6 December 1988, http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/06/world/man-in-the-news-venezuelan-and-winner-carlos-andres-perez.html, last accessed on 2014-02-05 24 FactMon ster, Venezuela, http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0108140.html, last accessed on 2014-02-05 25 Ibid 8 | P a g e Hugo Chávez Aim and Rationale The history and very recent situation (pre-Chavez era) of Venezuela is not unique in the region. Latin America has been ruled by the United States (US), both directly and indirectly, for several years. Several nations in the region were subjected to American supremacy with the US government controlling Latin American governments and economies. When leaders rose up against this supremacy it was met with hostile reactions from the United States and most of the western world. The US would take measures to ensure that a leader they approved of would be in power in Latin American nations. This would be done solely to serve American national interests. This is in despite of their propaganda leading the world to believe that they aimed to help spread democracy and act as an advocate for human rights. The US government has supported and funded various coups in several Latin American states to ensure a leader that complied with American ideals was in power. This way, Latin America became the US’s backyard whereby the US imposed their system (whether it worked or not) on various Latin American populations denying them the right to develop on their own terms and create their own laws. This was all done under the guise of promoting a good system of neo-liberal capitalism and democracy. What the US failed to realize is that what may have worked for them, did not necessarily work for other nations. This failed realization in conjunction with America being the king of the world blinded America from the possibility that one of the most dominant counter-hegemonic forces may emerge from a region that they spent years bullying. Standing up to American supremacy is not uncommon. Though, leaders have faced several repercussions as a result of presenting an alternate regime to the US system. These new systems have been implemented anyway for the social development and to uplift the lives and wellbeing of the majority of Latin Americans. This is proven whether looking at Salvador Allende in Chile or Fidel Castro in Cuba. A very strong and famous leader that possesses a lot of charisma in the creating of a counter hegemonic challenge to the US supremacy would be the late Venezuelan president, Hugo Rafael Frais Chávez. 9 | P a g e The imperial power exerted by the United States has led to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Chavez regime has been one of the only counter hegemonic challenges to American neo-liberal capitalism bringing forward a progressive alternate system. Chavez’s government rules and policies were frowned upon by many western states, especially the United States. However, through his st development of 21 century socialism, Chavez sought to create a state that did not have wide wealth gaps. He aimed at developing the nation socially creating an equal society. He achieved these goals by using oil revenues. When Chávez took to office, it was a triumph for Venezuelan democracy. As expected, this did not sit well with the American government. After the War on Terror, ex-president George W. Bush separated the world into two. There were those that conformed to US norms and supported the US and any nation or person that went against the dictates of Washington was a fascist or terrorist. Needless to say, America considered Hugo Chávez st a dictator as he presented his brand of 21 century socialism instead of subjecting to American neo-liberal capitalism. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War marked the end of any official opposition to the United States and capitalism. Since these major historical events, Hugo Chávez has been the only real counter-hegemonic challenge to American supremacy. He achieved this by refusing to conform to the dictates of Washington and by creating a system that benefited his country. In addition, Chávez acted as an example for the rest of the region and other nations across the globe. Chávez is known for his Bolivarian Revolution and initiating social change in Venezuela while looking toward regional integration. He does this with an anti-American sentiment which results from the hostility America has shown towards him. His revolution really revolutionized the face of Venezuela. With reforms in almost every sector including health, education and food security, Chávez was indeed the leader of the Venezuelan people as he stated in his inaugural speech. Not only was this a triumph, but his influence in Latin America has made him a regional and world icon. Spreading his message is to the dismay of the American government – who would do anything in their power to avoid the dreaded pink-tide in Latin America. With Chávez’s popularity on the rise, the reality 10 | P a g e

See more

The list of books you might like

Most books are stored in the elastic cloud where traffic is expensive. For this reason, we have a limit on daily download.