Exporting the Chavista Model: The Venezuelan Case for Autocracy Promotion in the Region

Abstract

President Hugo Chávez strove to change the socio‐political and economic system of his country, Venezuela. His revolutionary mission implied a strong regional projection and was intended to disseminate his transformative project in the wider region. This article focuses on the outward‐directed efforts of Chávez to shape his regional environment and examines the active and intended promotion of the Chavista model. The analysis shows that Chávez's mission was guided by four objectives: gaining ideological protagonism, facilitating the installation of like‐minded leaders, bolstering their persistence in power, and exporting his ‘alternative’ model of rule.

Autocracy promotion in Latin America:

“…From the beginning he showed his interest in 'almost' socialist economic institutions until in 2005 he officially proclaimed his Socialism of the 21st Century, referring to the political line adopted by him and his party. Chavez strove to change Venezuela's economic institutions and political regime under the umbrella of the Bolivarian Revolution (Kneuer, 2021). The president's economic policies established a system characterised by strong trade protectionism and partial socialism, with some targeted nationalisations, but preserving private property.…”

“…Chavez wanted to expand his influence throughout the Latin American region, exporting his revolutionary ideology characterised by an authoritarian political model and protectionist and 'almost' socialist economic institutions (Kneuer, 2021). For this reason, Venezuela's foreign policy from 1998 onwards was characterised by a continuous search for alliances at the regional level,…”

“…Chavez attempted to create a Latin American bloc to counter US hegemony and he did so by reminding the ideals of Simón Bolívar: the dream of a united Latin America, the idea of regional integration and the independence of peoples, the principles of unity and solidarity (Kneuer, 2021).…”

“…Rosella Monegol | pp. 33 -59 of the Constitution lifts the ban on direct presidential re-election and allows for an automatic second term) (Kneuer, 2021).…”

“…But all this gave rise to a system of corruption that spread Revista Euro Latinoamericana de Análisis Social y Político Año 3, N o 5 52 RELASP from Venezuela to other Latin American countries. The money sent by the Chavista regime was to be used for social projects, but of course it was also used to reward the ruling elite: in Bolivia, for example, the money ended up directly in the hands of the president's minister and was used to strengthen Morales' image in the country (Kneuer, 2021). However, Morales and Correa's populism remained more moderate than Chavez's: in Ecuador and Bolivia, the main economic indicators (e.g.…”