Analysis: Politics

Why Latin America Calls on Philosophers

By Santiago Zabala - Al Jazeera, Jan 10th 2012

At the sixth International Forum of Philosophy in Maracaibo, Venezuela,philosophers from four continents were invited to discuss "State, Revolution and the Construction of Hegemony". What is interesting is the institutional significance that is given to philosophy in the region.

Obama Slamming Chavez – Will Venezuela Be Able to Hold Elections As Planned?

By Nil Nikandrov - Strategic Culture Foundation, Dec 29th 2011

Nine months ahead of the presidential poll in Venezuela, US President B. Obama gave a written interview to the country's top-conservative and sternly anti-Chavez outlet El Universal. Obama's provocative comments were immediately read as a mobilizing signal by the opposition in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan Bourgeoisie is an Unburied Corpse

By Modesto Emilio Guerrero, Roland Denis, Nov 28th 2011

Venezuelan writer and activist Roland Denis responds to questions about next year's presidential elections, general support for the government and the opposition, and the role of the new Great Patriotic Pole.

A Progressive Dialogue: The Renewal of the Statist Left? The Contradictions of Venezuela

By Thomas Ponniah, Nov 7th 2011

Over the past generation, progressives have witnessed the fall of the Soviet Union and the decline of neoliberalism. As in all periods of collapse, the smoke and fury of the falling debris has, to some degree, concealed the possibilities that produced, accompanied and emerged from the breakdown. The most exciting progressive alternatives to emerge have come from the resurgence of the left in Latin America.

Independent Study: Venezuelans Support Participatory Democracy, Despite Image Abroad

By Correo del Orinoco International, Nov 6th 2011

Venezuelan citizens ranked democracy at 7.3 in the country, one of the highest scores in the region (psuv.org.ve)

The results of an annual study conducted by Chilean NGO Latinobarometer suggest that domestic support for the government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and its socialist policies is much stronger than is understood outside of the country.

Students and Workers Occupy Agroecology University: Statement from the Occupiers

By Latin American Institute of Agroecology, Nov 4th 2011

The occupiers say they are with president-commander Chávez (IALA)

Student and workers are currently engaged in an occupation at the Latin American Agroecology Institute, Barinas, demanding the removal of the institute's Directive Council. The students and workers have taken on the daily running of the institute, whilst preventing the Council from entering. This is an official statement from the occupation.

Few Surprises in Latin American Poll: US Foes Still among the More Democratic Regimes in Latin America, According to their People

By Kevin Young, Oct 31st 2011

Kevin Young analyses this year's "Latinobarómetro", a report which surveys public opinion in 18 Latin American countries. Released on October 28th, the poll reveals that the majority of Venezuelan citizens value their government as democratic, whilst 77% of the national population "support democracy".

Hugo Chavez is the Son of this People, not the Father

By Roland Denis, Indira Carpio Olivo, Ernesto J Navarro, Oct 25th 2011

Interview with Venezuelan social activist and author Roland Denis, regarding the formation of the “Great Patriotic Pole” in view of the up-and-coming 2012 presidential elections.

Does the Process of Change in Venezuela Resemble a “Permanent Revolution”?

By Steve Ellner - Dialectical Anthropology, Oct 19th 2011

The process of ongoing radicalization over an extended period under the presidency of Hugo Chávez contrasts with revolutions elsewhere throughout history. This paper will focus on the dynamics of radicalization in Venezuela and will examine the factors that contributed to the process.

US Out to Topple Chavez

By Nil Nikandrov, Oct 14th 2011

US media reports about Chavez's health problems altogether read as a message persistently sent by Washington that the epoch of Chavez is over.

One Year to Go for Venezuela’s Presidential Elections. Will the US-Backed Venezuelan Opposition Never Learn?

By Arturo Rosales - Axis of Logic, Oct 11th 2011

Venezuela’s Presidential elections for the period 2013 – 2019 will be held on Sunday October 7th 2012, about a month before the US jamboree takes place. With just under a year to go Chávez appears to be recovering from his cancer and last Friday, one year exactly before the election take place, "The Gran Polo Patriótico” (The Great Patriotic Pole) was launched.

The Bureaucratic Distortion of the Strategic Lines of the PSUV

By Javier Biardeau - Rebelion, Oct 5th 2011

Given that prospects still exist for analysing the results of the discussion assemblies on the so-called five “Strategic Lines of PSUV Political Action” (which will now be 6), it’s necessary to demonstrate the most evident symptoms of bureaucratic assimilation and neutralization of radical criticism to the “party-machine” logic, which began to be voiced following the problematic results of September 2010.

Venezuela's Social-Based Democratic Model: Innovations and Limitations

By Steve Ellner, Journal of Latin American Studies, Sep 26th 2011

Academic Steve Ellner discusses the differences between Venezuela's radical and "social-based" democratic model and that of reformist and social democratic governments.

Anti-Corruption Laws Ban Opposition Candidate from Ofﬁce; Inter-American Court Intervenes

By Correo del Orinoco, Sep 16th 2011

This week Venezuela’s top legal ofﬁcial reiterated his assertion that any decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) must respect the country’s "constitutionally-based judicial order" in the case of Leopoldo Lopez, the opposition politician barred from holding public ofﬁce for acts of corruption and administrative irregularities.

Communes in Caracas: Communal Organization Includes the City

By Karla Ron - Ciudad CCS, Sep 16th 2011

Among the aims of community organization is that of building the communal State, where power is exercised directly by the people, through self-government, with an economic model of social property and endogenous development.