Venezuela : izquierda, populismo y democracia en tiempos de Chávez

The rise of Hugo Chávez to power in 1999 has brought fundamental political changes and socioeconomic transformations to Venezuela. The main goal of this paper is to briefly analyze a sociopolitical proc-ess so sui generis and contradictory that goes against Latin American progressive experiences. Although the elites have appealed to the establishment of a socialist model from 2004 on, Chávez’s Government is not a leftist one. It can be better conceptualized as a (neo) populism that combines old-fashion radical ideas with democratic, authoritarian, militarist, and personalist characteristics. While some improvements of the socioeconomic conditions of the lower classes and the introduction of innovative local sociopolitical instruments can not be denied, at the same time it must be highlighted the deterioration of liberal and representative principles and institu-tions. Moreover, the exercise of some rights and liberties has wors-ened and democracy has been hindered by a highly polarized political environment. In addition, doubts remain about the building of a new economic development since the elites have exacerbated a rentier model. In sum, there is not evidence that the chavistas are constructing a new democratic socialism. Because the current political project de-pends heavily on the leadership of the President and the income pro-vided by petroleum, the so called “21st Century Socialism” is highly vulnerable and its export to other countries of the region unlikely