2007 - Honors Presentation about Venezuela - Fidel and Chavez

Alfonso Sintjago - "In Castro's Shadow"

Simon Saez Merida(October 30, 1928 - 29 May 2005)

• Secretary General of AD• Took part in “El Carupanazo”• Founder of MIR (Leftist

Revolutionary Movement)• Imprisoned and tortured by

Gen. Perez Jimenez• Professor of the Universidad

Central de Venezuela• Had meetings with Hugo

Chavez and Fidel Castro• Died from an attempted

assault on his car while driving down the highway


In Castro’s Shadow?

This paper attempts to compare Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s and Policies, Internationalism, and Rhetoric to Cuban Leader Fidel Castro’s and evaluates its relevance in world affairs.


Methodology• Newspapers and Television

• Documentaries

• Speeches (Castro Database and Alo Presidente!)

• Books and related papers

• Interviews

• Visited Venezuela


Theories

• Teodoro Petkoff – “Bourbonic Left”

• Andres Oppenheimer – “Venezuela and Beirut”

• Simon Saez Merida – “A Rhetorical Revolution”

• Richard Gott – “A Democratic Revolution”

• “Different Rate of Transition”


Why is this Research Important

• Demographics

• Immigration (Mariel Boatlift 1980)

• Trade and Remittances

• Oil

• If its important to Latin Americans, then it is important to the United States.


Their Relationship

• Personal Friendship– Baseball, birthdays, sickness, and gifts

• Political Friendship– Oil, missions, doctors, policies, and socialism


Two Countries and Two Eras

• Proximity to the United States

• History and economics

• Allies – Bipolar vs. Multi-polar World


Policies

• Nationalization of Industries

• Constitutional Changes

• Land Reform

• Militarization of Society

• Social Programs

• Aid to other socialist countries


Internationalism

• Pan-American Unity (CAN, Mercosur and ALBA)

• Involvement in the Neighbors Affairs

• Relationships with Rogue States

• Military vs. Economic Aid


Road To Power

• Failed Coup

• Prison

• Pardoned

• Ran for Office / Won a Revolution


Rhetorical Devises

• Personality Cult

• Lengthy Speeches

• For (or) Of The Common Man

• Independence Heroes

• Radical and Confrontational – “Socialism or Death”


Conclusions

• Gradual military strengthening• Gradual political strengthening• Gradual policy changes• “A Radical with Deep Pockets”• Influential in the region• Importance of preventing countries

from reaching critical situations • Not yet a security concern


Four Horseman of the Apocalypse


Poor Areas in Caracas























Elections and Results during Chavez Government

Dec 6, 1998 Wins Elections with 56,2% of the Vote

April 25, 1999 The New Constitution is ratified with 88% of the Vote

July 30, 2000 Chavez Wins Elections under new constitution with 59% of the Vote

August 16, 2004 Chavez avoids a referendum with 59% of the vote

Dec 3, 2006 Chavez is reelected with 62,89% of the vote


Gradual Changes by the Chavez Government

April 25, 1999 New Constitution is ratified

November 13, 2001 Legislature approves 49 laws including the Law of Hidrocarbons, and the Law of Lands.

April 2002 – To Dec 2002 Chavez faces a coup and also a general strike, his transitional to socialism slows down

Law of Content and Social Responsibility – Nov 2004

Auto-Censoring of Media Networks

“Ley Habilitante” – Feb 1, 2007 Allows the President to rule by decree for 18 months

Nationalization of Industries PDVSA, CANTV (Feb, 2007)

“Ley de Inmuebles” Currently being drafted – Abolishes private property



Castro was involved in:

-Grenada

-Panama

-Nicaragua

-Venezuela

-Chile

-Bolivia

Current Latin American Leaders Associated with Chavez


Chavez in Iraq (2000) and Iran (2006)

Castro was the head of the Non-Aligned Movement – 1979-1983

-Supported Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

-Sent troops to Angola, and the Congo

Education

2007 - Honors Presentation about Venezuela - Fidel and Chavez