The US imperialist attack on January 3 has brought Venezuela back to the limelight. For many years, the Bolivarian revolution was a source of inspiration for millions of workers, peasants, and youth across Latin America and beyond. Hugo Chavez was an outstanding revolutionary figure who wanted to use the country’s oil wealth to improve the living conditions of ordinary Venezuelans, and drew the conclusion that this could only be achieved by moving towards socialism.
Chavez and his movement faced the wrath of the capitalist oligarchy and imperialism. They organised a military coup in April 2002, a two-month national lockout, and sabotage of the oil industry to crush the revolution. Time and again, they were defeated by the direct participation of the masses through mass demonstrations, revolutionary organisation, factory occupations, and workers’ control.
However, the Venezuelan revolution was never completed. Eventually, the gains were squandered and betrayed under the leadership of Nicolas Maduro. In this talk by Jorge Martin (leading member of the Revolutionary Communist International), we will discuss a full balance-sheet of the Bolivarian revolution, the role played by Hugo Chavez, the shortcomings of the process, and how it came to an end, as well as the participation of the International Marxist Tendency (now RCI). There are crucial lessons to be learned.
Reading list
Books
- Alan Woods – The Venezuelan Revolution: A Marxist Perspective (English)
Articles
- Jorge Martin – “A balance sheet of the Venezuelan revolution” (IDOM 53)
- Alan Woods – “Theses on Revolution and Counter-revolution in Venezuela” (English)
- Alan Woods – “Marxists and the Venezuelan Revolution” (English) (French)
- Alan Woods – “A Tribute to Hugo Chávez” (English)
- John Peterson – “Hugo Chávez and the Venezuelan Revolution” (English)
Podcasts
- Against The Stream – “The story of Hugo Chávez and the Bolivarian Revolution” (English)
Videos
- Jorge Martin – “Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution” (English)