Editing Hugo Chávez (section)

==Political ideology==
{{see also|Socialism of the 21st century}}Chávez was described as a leftist, with one journal stating that he was "billed as the hemisphere’s second leftist leader after Cuba’s Fidel Castro."<ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2000/aug/1/20000801-011801-6666r/ Chavez to make economy priority Tuesday, August 1, 2000]</ref> In a 1996 interview, Chávez stated "I am not Marxist, but I am not anti-Marxist. I am not communist, but I am not anti-communist." In 1999, Chávez told the ''New York Times'' that "If you are attempting to determine whether Chavez is of the left, right, or center, if he is socialist, Communist, or capitalist, well, I am none of those, but I have a bit of all of those."<ref>Hugo! The Hugo Chávez Story from Mud Hut to Perpetual Revolution By Bart Jones, 2009</ref> In a 1998 interview, Chávez stated that "I am not a socialist. I believe that today's world, Latin America and the world to come require a leap forward. We are going beyond socialism and even savage capitalism."<ref name="bbc.com">[https://www.bbc.com/mundo/lg/america_latina/2010/01/100123_chavez_marx_amab El marxismo según Chávez Yolanda Valery BBC Mundo, Venezuela]</ref>

=== Opposition to capitalism and neoliberalism ===
{{Quote box
| width = 246px
| align = right
| quote = Democracy is impossible in a capitalist system. Capitalism is the realm of injustice and a tyranny of the richest against the poorest. [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau|Rousseau]] said, 'Between the powerful and the weak all freedom is oppressed. Only the rule of law sets you free.' That's why the only way to save the world is through socialism, a democratic socialism&nbsp;... [Democracy is not just turning up to vote every four or five years], it's much more than that, it's a way of life, it's giving power to the people&nbsp;... it is not the government of the rich over the people, which is what's happening in almost all the so-called democratic Western capitalist countries.
| source = —Hugo Chávez, June 2010<ref name="Hard Talk"/>
}}

Both before and during his presidency, Chávez spoke out against "savage capitalism," neoliberal capitalism and simply capitalism in various speeches. During his first electoral campaign, as noted by one observer, Chávez made clear his rejection of what he called "savage capitalism," using the words of [[Pope John Paul II]]. Chávez wanted greater state intervention in the economy, but "built bridges to the private sector to promote the development of national industry." According to Eduardo Semtei, a political scientist considered close to the ideas of Chavez, "From the beginning he had the idea that the classic capitalist model is a model contrary to the development of society."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220129202433/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/specials/2009/chavez_10/newsid_7844000/7844514.stm La revolución del discurso de Chávez Carlos Chirinos Martes, 27 de enero de 2009]</ref>

In 1999, Chávez argued that a new constitution drafted by an assembly packed with his allies would distance Venezuela from "savage capitalism."<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-20-mn-35583-story.html New Charter Shuns ‘Savage Capitalism’ L.A. TIMES ARCHIVES NOV. 20, 1999]</ref> He reiterated this position on 28 September 2001, when Chavez spoke negatively of neoliberal capitalism and the economic measures of the [[Carlos Andrés Pérez]], {{Ill|El Gran Viraje|lt=El Gran Viraje|es}}, one of the causes of the [[Caracazo]] riots.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20221004211023/http://todochavez.gob.ve/todochavez/2027-alocucion-del-ciudadano-presidente-de-la-republica-bolivariana-de-venezuela-hugo-chavez-frias-en-sesion-especial-de-la-asamblea-nacional-con-motivo-de-la-presentacion-del-plan-de-desarrollo-economico-y-social-de-la-nacion Alocución del Ciudadano Presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez Frías en Sesión Especial de la Asamblea Nacional con Motivo de la Presentación del Plan de Desarrollo Económico y Social de la Nación]</ref>

In various interviews conducted in 2002, Chávez shared his views on capitalism, saying that the Bolivarian Revolution was an alternative to neoliberalism, saying that capitalism was "sown ... in the marrow" of Venezuela and the rest of the world, stating that his revolution and its missions were more humane.<ref name="marxists.org">[https://www.marxists.org/espanol/harnecker/97068.pdf ENTREVISTA DE MARTA HARNECKER HUGO CHÁVEZ FRÍAS UN HOMBRE, UN PUEBLO Publicado en España por Editorial: Tercera Prensa, San Sebastián, noviembre 2002, P.69-70]</ref> Ultimately, Chávez said that the Bolivarian Revolution was "an alternative economy to dehumanized capitalism."<ref name="marxists.org"/>

In 2003, Chávez argued that the Soviet Union disappeared when it failed in its efforts to dismantle "the devastating logic of capital," stating that it is the "alternative model" that he promoted was the one now confronting "neoliberalism and savage capitalism."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210227135826/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_2990000/2990549.stm Nueva medición de fuerzas en Venezuela Jueves, 01 de mayo de 2003 Escribe desde Venezuela, Aldo Rodríguez Villouta, para BBC Mundo.]</ref> While at the World Social Forum on 26 January 2003, Chávez criticized the idea that capitalism and neoliberalism "won" following the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], saying that some individuals raised "the thesis of single thinking, there are no more alternatives, ... socialism is over, and communism is over and long live neoliberal capitalism and all this fairy tale."<ref name="web.archive.org">[https://web.archive.org/web/20190421083237/http://www.todochavez.gob.ve/todochavez/1481-intervencion-del-comandante-presidente-hugo-chavez-en-el-encuentro-solidaridad-con-la-revolucion-bolivariana-con-venezuela-en-el-marco-l-foro-social-mundial Intervención del Comandante Presidente Hugo Chávez, en el encuentro Solidaridad con la Revolución Bolivariana con Venezuela en el marco l Foro Social Mundial 26/01/2003]</ref>

Chávez noted in a 2005 interview that "At one time I came to think about the Third Way. I was having trouble interpreting the world. I was confused ... I spoke and wrote a lot about 'human capitalism'. Today I am convinced that it is impossible ... I became convinced that socialism is the way."<ref name="bbc.com" />

Chávez arguably did not fully talk openly about the [[socialism of the 21st century]] until 3 December 2006, during a speech after his reelection in the [[2006 Venezuelan presidential election|2006 presidential elections]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Torres |first=Ana Teresa |author-link=Ana Teresa Torres |url=https://www.anateresatorres.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/LA-HERENCIA-DE-LA-TRIBU.pdf |title=La Herencia de la Tribu |publisher=Alfa |year=2009 |isbn=978-9803542849 |pages=146–147 |language=es |quote=Con diferentes matices estas ambigüedades del discurso se mantuvieron hasta el triunfo en la reelección presidencial de 2006, siendo su contrincante Manuel Rosales, gobernador del estado Zulia. En el discurso del 3 de diciembre, desde el llamado «Balcón del Pueblo» del Palacio de Miraflores, el socialismo apareció expuesto con toda claridad.}}</ref>

===Marxism and socialism===
Chávez's connection to [[Marxism]] was a complex one, though he had described himself as a Marxist on some occasions.<ref name="en.ria.ru">{{cite web |date=16 January 2010 |title=Hugo Chavez admits to being Marxist, just like Christ &#124; World &#124; RIA Novosti |url=http://en.ria.ru/world/20100116/157569985.html |access-date=19 May 2014 |publisher=En.ria.ru}}</ref><ref name="BBCmarx" /><ref name="N24marx" /><ref name="ABCmarx" /><ref name="CLARINmarx" /> In May 1996, he gave an interview with {{ill|Agustín Blanco Muñoz|es}} in which he remarked, "I am not a Marxist, but I am not anti-Marxist. I am not communist, but I am not anti-communist."<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Marcano |first1=Cristina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pbAe2wmXSrgC&q=I+am+not+a+Marxist |title=Hugo Chavez |last2=Tyszka |first2=Alberto Barrera |date=14 August 2007 |publisher=Random House Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-58836-650-4 |language=en}}</ref> In a 2009 speech to the national assembly, he said: "I am a Marxist to the same degree as the followers of the ideas of Jesus Christ and the liberator of America, [[Simón Bolívar]]".<ref name="en.ria.ru" /> He was well versed in many Marxist texts, having read the works of many Marxist theoreticians, and often publicly quoted them. Various international Marxists supported his government, believing it to be a sign of proletariat revolution as predicted in [[Marxist theory]].<ref>See for instance [[Hugo Chávez#Woo06|Woods 2006]] and [[Hugo Chávez#Ali06|Ali 2006]].</ref> In 2010, Hugo Chávez proclaimed support for the [[Trotskyism|ideas]] of Marxist [[Leon Trotsky]], saying "When I called him (former Minister of Labour, [[José Ramón Rivero]])" Chávez explained, "he said to me: 'President I want to tell you something before someone else tells you ... I am a Trotskyist', and I said, 'well, what is the problem? I am also a Trotskyist! I follow Trotsky's line, that of permanent revolution", and then cited [[Marx]] and [[Lenin]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Malinarich |first=Nathalie |date=10 January 2007 |title=Chávez accelerates on path to socialism |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6246219.stm |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Jorge |date=12 January 2007 |title="What is the problem? I am also a Trotskyist!" – Chavez is sworn in as president of Venezuela |url=http://www.marxist.com/chavez-trotskyist-president120107.htm |website=In Defense of Marxism}}</ref>

Chávez also noted his identification with socialism, noting that "The Constitution speaks that the socioeconomic regime of Venezuela must have a strong cooperative and associative content and that gives it a charge that breaks with individualism and neoliberalism, which gives a strong socialist content to the project. In that direction we have to go all out. To cooperate is to socialize the economy, to give it a social content. I am sure that in Puerto Cruz, agricultural cooperatives will emerge."<ref>[https://www.marxists.org/espanol/harnecker/97068.pdf ENTREVISTA DE MARTA HARNECKER HUGO CHÁVEZ FRÍAS UN HOMBRE, UN PUEBLO Publicado en España por Editorial: Tercera Prensa, San Sebastián, noviembre 2002, P.105]</ref> Later in his presidency Chávez promoted the [[socialism of the 21st century]]. His approach was more heavily influenced by the theories of [[István Mészáros (professor)|István Mészáros]], Michael Lebowitz and [[Marta Harnecker]], who was Chávez's adviser between 2004 and 2011, rather than by those of [[Heinz Dieterich]].{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

===Bolivarianism===
{{Main|Bolivarianism|Bolivarian Circles}}

[[File:Portrait of Simón Bolívar by Arturo Michelena.jpg|thumb|upright|19th century general and politician [[Simón Bolívar]] provided a basis for Chávez's political ideas]]
Hugo Chávez defined his political position as [[Bolivarianism]], an ideology he developed from that of [[Simón Bolívar]] (1783–1830) and others. Bolívar was a 19th-century general who led the fight against the [[colonialism|colonialist]] Spanish authorities and who is widely revered across Latin America today. Along with Bolívar, the other two primary influences upon Bolivarianism are [[Simón Rodríguez]] (1769–1854), a philosopher who was Bolívar's tutor and mentor, and [[Ezequiel Zamora]], (1817–1860), the Venezuelan Federalist general.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cameron |first=Maxwell |year=2001 |title=Venezuela's Hugo Chávez: Savior or Threat to Democracy? |journal=Latin American Research Review |volume=36 |issue=3 |page=263 |doi=10.1017/S0023879100019270 |issn=0023-8791 |s2cid=252749214 |doi-access=free}}. Online at [https://web.archive.org/web/20130219083230/http://www.injerencia.org/documentos/Venezuela/Articulos_Ingles/Chavez_Savior%20or%20Threat.pdf]</ref>{{primary source inline|date=August 2022}} The fact that Chávez's ideology originated from Bolívar has also received some criticism because Chávez had occasionally described himself as being influenced by [[Karl Marx]], a critic of Bolívar.<ref name="marx">{{cite web| url=http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1858/01/bolivar.htm| title=Bolivar y Ponte| date=1858| first=Karl| last=Marx| author-link=Karl Marx| publisher=marxists.org| access-date=18 August 2010}} First published in the New American Cyclopedia, Vol. III, 1858.</ref>{{primary source inline|date=August 2022}}<ref name="MARXbolivar">{{cite book|last1=Beddow|first1=D. Méndez|last2=Thibodeaux|first2=Sam J.|title=Gangrillas : the unspoken pros and cons of legalizing drugs|date=2010|publisher=Trafford on Demand Pub|location=[U.S.]|isbn=978-1426948466|page=29}}</ref> Beddow and Thibodeaux noted the complications between Bolívar and Marx, stating that "[d]escribing Bolivar as a socialist warrior in the class struggle, when he was actually member of the aristocratic 'criollos', is peculiar when considering Karl Marx's own writings on Bolivar, whom he dismissed as a false liberator who merely sought to preserve the power of the old Creole nobility which he belonged".<ref name="MARXbolivar" />{{primary source inline|date=August 2022}}

===Other influences===
Chávez's early heroes were nationalist military dictators that included former Peruvian president [[Juan Velasco Alvarado]] and former Panamanian "Maximum Leader" [[Omar Torrijos]].<ref name=ECONmarch2013>{{cite news|title=Venezuela after Chávez Now for the reckoning|url=https://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21573095-after-14-years-oil-fuelled-autocracy-hugo-chávezs-successors-will-struggle-keep|access-date=23 December 2014|agency=The Economist|date=9 March 2013}}</ref> One dictator Chávez admired was [[Marcos Pérez Jiménez]], a former president of Venezuela that he praised for the public works he performed.<ref name=Carroll193/> Chávez praised Pérez Jiménez to vilify preceding democratic governments, stating that "General Pérez Jiménez was the best president Venezuela had in a long time ... He was much better than [[Rómulo Betancourt]], much better than all of those others. They hated him because he was a soldier."<ref name=Carroll193/>

Chávez was also well acquainted with the various traditions of Latin American socialism, espoused by such figures as Colombian politician [[Jorge Eliécer Gaitán]]<ref name="coanews.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.coanews.org/article/2007/wall-street-journal-claims-chavez-oil-policy-aims-to-weaken-us |title=Wall Street Journal Claims Chávez Oil Policy "Aims to Weaken US" |first=Stephen |last=Lendman |work=COA News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430200239/http://coanews.org/article/2007/wall-street-journal-claims-chavez-oil-policy-aims-to-weaken-us |archive-date=30 April 2009}}</ref> and former Chilean president [[Salvador Allende]].<ref name="coanews.org"/> Early in his presidency, Chávez was advised and influenced by the Argentine Peronist [[Norberto Ceresole]].<ref name=ECONmarch2013/> [[Cuban revolution|Cuban Communist revolutionaries]] [[Che Guevara]] and [[Fidel Castro]] also influenced Chávez, especially with Castro's government assistance with the Bolivarian Missions.<ref name=ECONmarch2013/><ref name="coanews.org"/>

Chávez also spoke admiringly of [[Mahatma Gandhi]], stating in a 2005 speech that "we must remember that thought of Gandhi that reflects a deep respect for himself, for his own country, for a healthy nationalism" and expressed support for what he said was Gandhi's espousal of being anti-capitalist, anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist.<ref name=":8">[https://web.archive.org/web/20201204180446/http://www.todochavez.gob.ve/todochavez/3563-intervencion-del-comandante-presidente-hugo-chavez-durante-catedra-impartida-ante-estudiantes-e-intelectuales-en-la-universidad-jawajarl%C4%81l-nehru-de-la-republica-de-la-india 04/03/2005 Intervención del Comandante Presidente Hugo Chávez durante cátedra impartida ante estudiantes e intelectuales, en la Universidad Jawajarlāl Nehru de la República de la India]</ref> During the same speech, Chávez also expressed influence from [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], noting he was a main figure of the [[Non-Aligned Movement]], with Chávez citing his leadership as an inspiration "of the need, of brotherhood and solidarity among the peoples of the Third World. The need to unite to defend the interests of our people, of poor people against the abuse of rich people."<ref name=":8" />

Other indirect influences on Chávez's political philosophy are the Gospel teachings of [[Jesus Christ]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4359924.stm Hugo Chávez: Charming provocateur], Robin Lustig, BBC News, Paris</ref><ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-01-10-chavez-venezuela_x.htm?csp=34 "Chávez promises a socialist Venezuela as he starts new 6-year term"], 10 January 2007, ''[[USA Today]]''.</ref> Other inspirations of Chávez's political view are [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]],<ref>{{in lang|it}} [https://archive.today/20130413073001/http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/cultura/200707articoli/23975girata.asp ''Garibaldi, the hero of Chávez'']</ref> [[Antonio Gramsci]] and [[Antonio Negri]].<ref>{{in lang|it}} [http://www.carmillaonline.com/2007/12/06/venezuela-il-no-vince-al-fotofinish/#002461 ''Venezuela, no wins at "photo finish"'']</ref><ref>{{cite news|author= Redazione Il Fatto Quotidiano|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2011/03/18/nord-africa-lotte-francesi-antiberlusconismo-in-300-a-lezione-da-toni-negri/98408/| title=North Africa, french fightings, anti-Berlusconi. 300 at Toni Negri's lesson|publisher=[[Il Fatto Quotidiano]] |date=18 March 2011 |language=it}}</ref><ref>''Understanding the Venezuelan Revolution: Hugo Chavez Talks to Marta Harnecker'', New York: Monthly Review, 2005</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Cotroneo |last=Rocco|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2007/agosto/17/Chavez_preme_sul_pedale_del_co_9_070817090.shtml| title=Chávez insists for socialism|access-date=22 August 2011|publisher=Corriere della Sera.it|date=17 August 2007|language=it}}</ref>

====Promotion of conspiracy theories====

In September 2006, Chávez said [[9/11 conspiracy theories]] were "not absurd" and that "a building never collapses like that, unless it's with an implosion".<ref>{{cite news|title=Chavez says U.S. may have orchestrated 9/11|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13401534|work=msnbc.com|date=12 September 2006|language=en}}</ref> Chávez also told [[Christopher Hitchens]] that he did not believe that the footage of the [[Moon landing conspiracy theories|Apollo 11 Moon landings was genuine]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hitchens|first1=Christopher|title=Hugo Boss|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/08/hugo_boss.html|work=Slate|date=2 August 2010}}</ref>