HUGO CHAVEZ (6/27/14)
- Discussion Questions:
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Was Chavez part of an axis of evil? A threat to the United States ("imprison 'genocidal' George Bush")? Anti-Semitic? A dictator? A buffoon, e.g., Alo Presidente as a variety show?
- An advocate of the poor? An independent force in a Latin America historically dominated by the U.S.? An astute political actor playing to his supporters? A populist?
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Was he more repressive than the Mexican presidents under the PRI (e.g., Lopez Mateos and the Tlatelolco Massacre)?
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Are the problems of Venezuela today a function of mis-guided policies under Chavez? Or the difficulties of a very polarized society (as reflections of economic inequities)? Or both?
- How unique was Chavez? Will his "Bolivarian Revolution" continue beyond his passing?
- Venezuela Outline
- BBC New Profile on Chavez
- Chavez Said to Intimidate Critics
- Chavez Biography
- PBS Frontline on Chavez
- Venezuela Guide, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (pro-business, membership includes the top US firms investing in Latin America)
- In Search of Hugo Chávez. Foreign Affairs, Vol. 85, No. 3 (May - Jun., 2006), pp. 45-59. The reality of Chavez.
- FromBullets to Ballots: The Emergence of Popular Support for Hugo Chávez. Damarys Canache. Latin American Politics and Society, Vol. 44, No. 1 (Spring, 2002), pp. 69-90. Converted militancy or democratic ambivalence.
- The Decline and Fall of Democracy in Venezuela: Ten Theses. Daniel H. Levine. Bulletin of Latin American Research, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Apr., 2002), pp. 248-269. Excellent source on the topic. “Exhaustion of the model” of democracy based on moderate parties, consensus, etc.?
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