Venezuela Analysis: Featured Articles

Smoke and Mirrors: An Analysis of Human Rights Watch’s Report on Venezuela

Gregory Wilpert - Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:44:00 -0430

The September 18, 2008 Human Rights Watch report, “A Decade Under Chavez,” raises a few problems with regard to the protection of political rights in Venezuela, but the few places where it is on target are almost completely drowned in a sea of de-contextualization, trumped-up accusations, and a clear and obvious bias in favor of the opposition and against the government.

By Gregory Wilpert - Venezuelanalysis.com

Chavez Visits South Africa and Strengthens South-South Relations

Tamara Pearson and James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:28:07 -0430

Hugo Chavez arrived in Pretoria, South Africa Tuesday morning with the aim of developing closer relations with Venezuela, to concretize cooperation and “to strengthen the world of the South,” he said.

By Tamara Pearson and James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

Wilpert Takes Stock of the Bolivarian Revolution

Derrick O'Keefe - Rabble.ca — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:36:45 -0430

Wilpert has not just produced a comprehensive look at the social, economic and political transformation that has shaken the foundations of Venezuela over the past decade; he has also delivered a sharp rebuke to one of the trendiest, if dubious, political theories to appear on the academic left in recent years. By Derrick O'Keefe - Rabble.ca

Losing Latin America: What Will the Obama Doctrine be Like?

Greg Grandin - TomDispatch — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:40:18 -0430

Latin America has been indispensable in the evolution of U.S. diplomacy. The region is often referred to as America's "backyard," but a better metaphor might be Washington's "strategic reserve," the place where ascendant foreign-policy coalitions regroup and redraw the outlines of U.S. power, following moments of global crisis. By Greg Grandin - TomDispatch

Will the Bolivarian Revolution End Coal Mining in Venezuela?

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:16:42 -0430

The Wayúu, Yukpa, and Barí indigenous communities who would have been displaced by the coal mining projects in their lands cautiously interpret the Chavez government's suspension of these projects as a temporary sign of relief. But their struggle against coal mining has lasted a quarter of a century and will not conclude until mining concessions are repealed for good.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuela’s Labor Movement at the Crossroads

Kiraz Janicke & Federico Fuentes - Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:31:54 -0430

The recent replacement of the labor minister and the nationalization of Sidor have once again brought to the fore the question of the role of workers in Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution, whose participation as an organized class has been sporadic at best, in this process aimed at constructing ‘Socialism of the 21st Century.’ By Kiraz Janicke & Federico Fuentes - Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuela: Danger signs for the revolution

Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com & Federico Fuentes - Green Left Weekly — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:40:06 -0430

In recent weeks, external and internal pressure against Venezuela's Bolivarian revolution, has intensified dramatically.

By Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com & Federico Fuentes - Green Left Weekly

Anti-Semitism or Anti-Imperialism in Venezuela?

James Suggett – Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:14:30 -0430

When the recent accusations of government-sponsored anti-Semitism are thoroughly investigated, it is revealed that in the majority of cases, the strongly anti-imperialist political sentiments of Venezuelan social movements are erroneously conflated with anti-Semitism. By James Suggett – Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuela's Chavez: Socialism Still Our Goal

Federico Fuentes - Green Left Weekly — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:54:34 -0430

A collective discussion is occurring throughout the revolutionary movement led by President Hugo Chavez following the defeat of the proposed constitutional reform proposals — that were intended to deepen the revolution to help open the way towards socialism — in the December 2 referendum. By Federico Fuentes - Green Left Weekly

Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution at a Turning Point

Gregory Wilpert — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:38:03 -0430

The failed reform was the first defeat for the Bolivarian movement, after 12 national electoral contests, since Hugo Chávez was elected in 1998, and the first time that he and his movement had been forced to examine which way the process must go if it is to advance. By Gregory Wilpert

Naomi Campbell Interviews 'Rebel Angel' Hugo Chavez

AFP — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:57:05 -0430

LONDON (AFP) - British supermodel Naomi Campbell has interviewed Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, describing him as a "rebel angel" who is unafraid to speak his mind but poses no threat to democracy.

Campbell was granted an audience with the outspoken left-wing leader as part of her new brief as contributing editor for British men's lifestyle magazine GQ, interviewing leading figures from politics, sport and entertainment.

By AFP

Making Victory of Defeat: What Next for Venezuela?

George Cicariello-Maher — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:24:20 -0400

While we reflect on errors made, we should not lose sight of the unique opportunities posed by this turn of events. Sunday's referendum defeat marks a critical juncture in the Bolivarian Revolution: with the most direct, state-led path to socialism effectively blocked, Chávez will have no other alternative than to rely on the mobilization of the popular revolutionary masses. By George Cicariello-Maher

The Battle for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela

Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:12:18 -0400

As the struggle to deepen Venezuela's revolution through the framework of the pending constitutional reforms intensifies, so too does the battle to create the new United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). The simultaneous campaign for constitutional reforms and the formation of the PSUV means the two are intricately connected. By Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuela’s Constitutional Reform: An Article-by-Article Summary

Gregory Wilpert – Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:50:10 -0400

The following is an article-by-article summary of the changes being proposed to Venezuela's 1999 constitution. Venezuelans will vote on the reform on December 2^nd and will do so in two blocks. Block "A" includes President Chavez's original proposal and 13 articles introduced by the National Assembly. Block "B" includes another 26 reform articles proposed by the National Assembly. Voters may vote "Yes" or "No" on each block. By Gregory Wilpert – Venezuelanalysis.com

Congressman José Serrano's Speech on U.S. policy Towards Latin America

José Serrano — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:41:14 -0400

On Nov. 6, Democratic Congressman José Serrano (New York) lambasted the U.S. House of Representatives for having passed a voice-vote resolution that connects Iran's growing ties to Latin America with terrorism. By José Serrano

Using Oil Diplomacy to Sever Venezuela’s Dependence

Steve Ellner - NACLA — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:49:06 -0400

From the beginning of his presidency, Chávez has advocated a "multipolar world" as a corrective to the "unipolar world," a euphemism for U.S. hegemony. By "multipolar world," the Venezuelan president envisions the transformation of nations of the South into blocs, bound together geographically or economically, with political and economic clout. By Steve Ellner - NACLA

A Revolution is Just Below the Surface

Eva Golinger, Noam Chomsky — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:36:40 -0400

An Interview with world-renown linguist and political analyst Noam Chomsky. Chomsky discusses popular power, U.S. intervention, the media, and the possibility of a revolution in the U.S. By Eva Golinger, Noam Chomsky

An Engaged Political Culture in Venezuela

Cynthia Peters — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:21:26 -0400

That’s the U.S. political culture in a nutshell. It feels more engaging to free a stretch of highway from tiny bits of litter than it does to participate in the political process. Not so in Venezuela. “One thing you can say about Chavez,” said one middle class Venezuelan named Ramon, “is that he’s got everyone thinking about politics.” By Cynthia Peters

Venezuela’s Resurgent Revolutionary Student Movement

Kiraz Janicke – Venezuelanalysis.com — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:41:14 -0400

The latest round of opposition mobilizations, the ostensibly “spontaneous” student mobilizations in defense of private television station RCTV, have once again for the opposition inadvertently produced an undesired result - the revitalization of Venezuela’s revolutionary student movement By Kiraz Janicke – Venezuelanalysis.com

The Trial (And Errors) of Hugo Chavez

Steve Ellner - In These Times — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 07:56:49 -0400

Venezuelans are debating whether Chávez is putting the country's windfall revenue to good use or squandering it through disorganization, corruption and misplaced priorities. The debate over government performance is significant because much of the country's oil wealth is being invested in novel social programs to help the poor. By Steve Ellner - In These Times

The Venezuelan Arms Build Up: Fact or Fiction?

Victor Figueroa-Clark – Red Pepper Venezuela Blog — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:36:48 -0400

The asinine assertions of Chavez’s ‘authoritarianism’ can be easily refuted, but the purchase of submarines and aircraft are harder to explain. Military hardware is military hardware whichever way you look at it, and at first sight it is not easy to see why a country like Venezuela needs jet fighters, submarines or helicopters. By Victor Figueroa-Clark – Red Pepper Venezuela Blog

The U.S. and Venezuela: Constitutional Worlds Apart

Stephen Lendman — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 06:34:42 -0400

Although imperfect, no country anywhere is closer to a model democracy than Venezuela under President Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias. In contrast, none is a more shameless failure than the U.S.A., but it was true long before the age of George W. Bush. By Stephen Lendman

Where Is Venezuela Going?

Lee Sustar - International Socialist Review — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:14:33 -0400

Where is Venezuela going? This article will (1) analyze the rise of Chávez within the context of Venezuelan history and politics; (2) examine the government’s economic, social, and political policies; (3) evaluate the Venezuelan revolutionary process from the standpoint of classical Marxist theory; and (4) outline a strategic approach towards the Chávez phenomenon for those committed to anti-imperialist and revolutionary socialist politics. By Lee Sustar - International Socialist Review

How Chavez Changed Life in the Tribal Territories

Maurice Lemoine - Le Monde Diplomatique — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:01:59 -0400

Venezuela used to regard its indigenous people contemptuously, but President Hugo Chávez set up a constitution that respects their wishes and their ownership of land. He promised, and has delivered, some improvements in their daily lives and prospects, but the changes are still slow and hesitant. By Maurice Lemoine - Le Monde Diplomatique

Chavez and RCTV - Tilting the Balance against 'The Bad Guy'

Media Lens — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:24:23 -0400

Attacks on free speech across the region do not make the front pages of the British and American press. As usual, alleged concerns for democracy and human rights mask deeper priorities: protecting governments that toe the line dictated by Western power, and undermining those that do not. By Media Lens

Behind Venezuela's "Student Rebellion"

George Ciccariello-Maher - CounterPunch — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:17:39 -0400

Who are "the students," and what do they represent? In recent days, it has become clear that these student mobilizations have been, in fact, largely directed and supported by sectors of the opposition, all in an effort to provoke, in Chávez's own words, a "soft coup" against the revolutionary government. By George Ciccariello-Maher - CounterPunch

RCTV and Freedom of Speech in Venezuela

Gregory Wilpert – Venezuelanalysis.com — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:56:05 -0400

A detailed examination of the arguments used to criticize the Chavez government's decision not to renew RCTV's broadcast license. Do any of these arguments have merit? A few might, but the bottom line is that they end up defending the privileges of the country's elite. By Gregory Wilpert – Venezuelanalysis.com

Misión Barrio Adentro: Experiencing Health Care as a Human Right in Venezuela

Rebecca Trotzky Sirr - UpsideDownWorld.org — Sun, 27 May 2007 13:33:32 -0400

Entering the Misión Barrio Adentro clinic in San Rafael de Tabay, a town in Merida, Venezuela amazes even the most jaded visitor. The local community hospital, Centro de Diagnostico Integral (CDI) brings alive Venezuela’s social revolution in health care. By Rebecca Trotzky Sirr - UpsideDownWorld.org

Venezuela's Co-op Boom

Michael Fox - Yes! Magazine — Tue, 22 May 2007 18:42:30 -0400

To end poverty, put poor people in charge of their livelihood. Venezuela's co-op boom turns the jobless into worker/owners. By Michael Fox - Yes! Magazine

Noam Chomsky on Recent Developments in Venezuela

Kabir Joshi-Vijayan and Matthew Skogstad-Stubbs — Fri, 18 May 2007 10:29:00 -0400

Linguist and political analyst Professor Noam Chomsky discusses changes in Venezuela under Chavez, nationalizations, Chavez's enabling law, and Latin American integration. By Kabir Joshi-Vijayan and Matthew Skogstad-Stubbs