Latin American Politics Quiz 5

Communal state

A sort of self government perpetuated by institutions like communal councils, communes, and communal cities (proposed in 2007). Accepts private property, but promotes social property as well. However, these policies may not have necessarily had their "intended" effect on the Venezuelan citizens who needed it the most

Pink Tide

An uprising of anti-American, left wing/leftist ideology in Latin America manifested in authoritarian regimes between 1998 and 2009, "a turn to the left", also called post-neoliberalism

Henrique Capriles

Anti-Chavez dissidents finally banded together in 2012 to run against him in the election. He won but got died before he could be inaugurated, so Capriles ran again against Chavez's handpicked successor Maduro and lost but not by much

CLAP

Committee for supplies, requires a three week background check to join and loyalty to the party. If you aren't critical of the party then you can eat

Hugo Chavez (Venezuela)

During his presidency, he faced economic troubles; oil prices were low, so the business class refused to make new investments. Chavez decides to gain control of the oil industry (questionable decision) and simultaneously becomes an enemy of George Bush. However, Venezuela and the US are inextricably tied to one another by their mutual dependence on petroleum. He was largely very authoritarian and dictatorial but he did not engage in large scale repression like other military rulers in Latin America.

Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua)

Elected president of Nicaragua in 2006, re-elected in 2011; not looking good for democracy, their economy is looking better but still not good

Evo Morales (Bolivia)

First indigenous president, has repeatedly attempted to change the constitution in order to be in power for longer, which was squelched by referendum; anti-globalization, anti-neoliberal, nationalized natural gas, paid families whose kids stayed in school, empowered indigenous people

"Socialism for the 21st century"

Having gained control of the petroleum industry, he decided to introduce a "new kind of democracy" based on grassroots organization in neighborhoods, workplaces, and the countryside

Perez

In 1989, Perez returns to the presidency and introduces some neoliberal reform which includes the privatization of state owned companies, liberalization of trade and deregulation of economic activity and an increase in the cost of gas and public transportation

MAS (Movimento al Socialismo)

Morales' political party, left wing and ethnopopulist party

Chavismo policies

Nationalization, social welfare programs, and a rejection of neoliberalism (particularly the IMF and the World Bank), participatory and workplace democracy

Fifth Republic Movement

Political party created by Hugo Chavez after the fall of the two party system which emphasized pointing out the corruption in Venezuelan politics

Punto Fijo pact of 1958

Tri-partisan deal to introduce a more stable economy, inclusiveness, shared prosperity, and civilian control over the military, led to decades of Democratic development

Petroleum in Venezuela

Venezuela enters its Petroleum age in the 1920s, and the Gomez regime offered concessions to private investors which awarded permits for exploration and extraction within a designated area for a designated amount of time: sort of like paying rent and by 1929 Venezuela is the largest oil exporter in the world but this emphasis on oil postponed industrialization

Chavez's opposition

Very weak and disorganized with no leadership because people were all upset about different things; so while many were anti-Chavez, they weren't necessarily pro-anything else (still lots of corruption, money not necessarily wisely spent)

Constituent assembly

When Chavez came to power, he consolidated this power by calling for elections for a constituent assembly, which creates a new constitution and disbands the legislature, replacing Congress with the constituent assembly. They also approved presidential re-election, more executive power, and a unicameral legislature

Luiz Inacio Lula de SIlva (Brazil)

Won presidency in 2002 after losing a bunch of times; focused on economic growth with "social inclusion" along with big welfare programs and money to families whose kids stay in school and go to the doctor, eventually it was exposed that he was bribing people because his legislature was highly divided/dysfunctional

I.S.I. (Import Substitution Industrialization)

blocking foreign competitors with tariffs, making simple consumer goods (soft drinks), then consumer durables (like appliances), then advanced industrial products (like cars and TVs)

Chavez's foreign policy

challenging the hegemony of the US, discrediting the economic prescriptions

Ethnopopulism

mobilizing the masses in opposition to the elites with ethnic appeals; evident in both Bolivia and Venezuela