Bolivarian Venezuela of Venezuela

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Bolivarian Venezuela of Venezuela
project by alex dagenhart
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Overview

• Neighbors Colombia, Brazil, Guyana, and the
  Caribbean Sea
• Twice the size of California
• Population 25,375,281
• Infant Mortality 22.2/1000 live births
• Life Expectancy 74
• 96 Roman Catholic
• Literacy Rate 93.4
• Capital Caracas

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Early History

• 1811 independence from Spain
• 1830 breakaway from The Republic of Gran Colombia
• 1935 Characterized by caudillismo, and other
  unstable rule
• Key Dictators (first) Jose Antonio Páez,
  (last)Juan Vicente Gómez from 1908-1935

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Semi-Recent History

• 1935-1959 Three coup detat and nine different
  ruling governments
• 1959-2002 Overall structural stability. Country
  enjoyed fair and free elections
• Pact of Punto Fijo
• 1992 two coups to overthrow Luis Herrera Campíns
  were not successful
• 2002 Attempted guerilla coup of Hugo Chávez.
• Some claim US involvement.
• 2002 Chávez restored after two days
• 2004 Chávez wins referendum
• Population (elites vs. poor) remain bitterly
  divided

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Economics

• 1935 Venezuela became a major oil exporter
• Government spending and success seems to hinge on
  world oil prices
• Very successful during the early 70s oil boom
• Many, many programs created and left unfinished
• Overall Democratic system stability does not
• Made apparent in 1992 when two unsuccessful coups
  arose during Luis Herrera Campíns time in office
• Oil strike of 2002 left economy in shambles

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Suffrage / Governmental System

• Presidents elected by popular vote
• Universal suffrage at age 18
• Six year term
• May only serve one consecutive term
• President may ask legislative body to nullify a
  law
• Legislature may deem presidents decision
  unjustified with a simple majority vote
• Unicameral Parliament General Assembly
• Named National Assembly
• Five year terms
• 165 of its deputies must be reserved for
  indigenous people
• Judicial Body Tribunal Supremo de Justica
• Elected / Twelve year terms
• All adults may run for office with out fear for
  life, liberty, or property

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Free Speech/Media

• 1958 most media outlets owned by elites
• 2002 During coup, Chavez interrupts all
  television broadcasts
• Uninterrupted freedoms for the most part

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Political Parties and Groups

• Traditional Latin American labor unions
  everywhere
• Strikes within oil industries
• 1974 Rafael Caldera Rodríguez legalized the
  Communist Party

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Hugo Chavez

• Began political career as a paratrooper
• Gained army support
• Participated in 1992 unsuccessful
• 80 civilians dead, 17 armed forces
• Elected to president in 1998 with 56 majority
• The Movement of the Fifth Republic
• Coup attempt in 2002, unsuccessful
• Referendum in 2004, also unsuccesful

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Chavez Reforms

• Bolivarian Revolution
• Platform for office
• Reforms
• Signing of a new constitution
• More upward mobility for the poor
• Nationalization of oil
• Change in agrarian policy
• Socialist state

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Chavez Foreign Affairs

• Touts as a socialist nation
• Has steady relations with Cuba
• Part of an oil-for-doctors program
• Recently signed oil deal with China
• Oil-for-industry
• Part of South American Community of Nations
• Continent-wide free trade zone
• Chavez was the first western leader to enter Iraq
  since Gulf War

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Political Power

• Currently is being taken away in small ways from
  opponents of Chavez, due to the unpopularity of
  his enemies among the poor

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Current Events

• Pat Robertson threatens Hugo Chavez
• United Nation
• Calls upon body to change its format to a more
  effective one
• Permanent members to give up seats
• More powerful United Nations
• Takes Bush to world stage over disaster in Iraq