Hugo Chávez

2. Hugo Chávez

3. Introduction • President of Venezuela in 1998 • A passionately disputed personality

4. 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

5. 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 ?

6. Introduction Who is Hugo Chávez?

7. SUMMARY Introduction Biography Chávez’s domestic policy Chávez’s foreign policy US reactions Chávez’s popularity Conclusion: Chávez, a threat?

8. Born in 1954 Educated at the Military Academy of Venezuela. A career army officer, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. I. Biography

9. 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

10. I. Biography • A peaceful social revolution to help Venezuela’s poor majority • 1999: creation of a constitutional assembly to draft a new constitution

11. I. Biography • Main changes : 1) The change of the Republic’s name 2) More power for the president 3) Less power for the legislative and judicial institutions 4) Guarantee of Human Rights

12. 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)

13. II. Chávez’s domestic policy • Aim: Implementation of Bolivarism • 6 political components: 1. Venezuelan economic and political sovereignty 2. Grassroots political participation of the population through popular votes and referenda 3. Economic self-sufficiency (in food, consumer durables…) 4. Instilling in people a national ethic of patriotic service 5. Equitable distribution of Venezuela's vast oil revenues 6. Eliminating corruption

14. 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

15. II. Chávez’s domestic policy 3) Criticisms • Authoritarian direction abandoning democratic traditions • Rampant corruption • A threefold higher murder rate • Controversial poverty and unemployment figures

16. III. Chávez’s foreign policy • 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)

17. 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)

18. III. Chávez’s foreign policy • Other projects: - Petrosur - A gas pipeline from Venezuela to Argentina - Bank of the South - A common Latin American Currency

19. 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

20. Russia India China

21. Iran 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

22. IV. US-reactions • Massive accusations • Threat of a second Cuba • Venezuela portrayed as a threat to international peace and a negative force in the region

23. IV. US-reactions 2) 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

24. V. Chávez’s popularity • In Venezuela • Increasing popularity among the poor • Growing Opposition (e.g. Coup in April, 2002)

25. V. Chávez’s popularity B) In Latin America • Sympathy among neighbouring countries -> integration into the Mercosur (December 2005) -> bilateral agreements Chávez, Kirchner, Lula

26. 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

27. V. Chávez’s popularity C) Internationally • Gained sympathy around the world =>The symbol of resistance against neoliberalism and US hegemony

28. 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)

29. V. Chávez’s popularity • Failure to gain a non permanent seat on the UN Security Council => Mixed success in the international arena

30. Conclusion: Hugo Chávez, a threat ? • US have failed thus far to isolate Chávez diplomatically

31. Conclusion: Hugo Chávez, a threat ? Failure of Chávez’s « oil diplomacy »

32. 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

33. Conclusion: Hugo Chávez, a threat ? • Opportunity for the US to keep their influence on the continent • One condition: negociations on equal terms

34. 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

35. Conclusion: Hugo Chávez, a threat ?

36. 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