Suchergebnisse

Francisco Dominguez charts the progress of the Bolivarian revolution. How to understand Venezuela? At one extreme one finds interpretations of Chavez's Bolivarian Revolution as just another 'socialistic' experiment, doomed to fail unless significantly more radical measures are taken. In this view, what has been unleashed in Venezuela has the potential for full-blooded socialism, since, rather than being the culmination of a series of government reforms from above, the revolution can be seen as radicalisation from below: Chavez, pendulum-like, radicalises when he feels the pressure from the masses. In this argument, however, he is not prepared to transcend capitalism, because of his belief that there is still an important role for the national bourgeoisie.1 At the other extreme, and in the view of most of the British (and world) media, Chavez is seen as just another Latin American caudillo who, by the cunning use of oil money, is turning himself into a totalitarian dictator.2 Neither of these interpretations is accurate. This article seeks to explore why they are wrong, by looking at the dynamics of the Bolivarian Revolution in its concrete unfolding. Adapted from the source document.

Growing public impatience with failed government strategies to improve the lives of South Africa's black majority threatens the survival of the tripartite alliance that has governed the country since the end of apartheid. If the African National Congress-led government proves unwilling or unable to successfully address the issues - land reform and property rights - crucial for solving many other lingering economic ills, the ripple effects of capital flight and economic contraction will be felt throughout sub-Saharan Africa. (Survival / SWP)