Are the Bells Tolling for the Bolivarian Revolution?

Perhaps the most interesting paradox taking place during the three decades of Latin America’s democratization has been the rise (and potential demise) of Chavismo. After 15 years beating the drum for Latin America’s total autonomy from U.S. influence, the Bolivarian Revolution is facing fast deterioration, turning all of a sudden into an ancien regime. Created as a remake of 20^thCentury Latin American populism, its egalitarian rhetoric produced an immense fascination worldwide both in the progressive Left and among nations sharing an anti-U.S. sentiment. Today the improbable dream has become a bad joke, a mixture of economic chaos, rude military rule, repression, and corruption. Few of its promises and social gains rest on their feet today. Not even its self-confessed submission to the rags of the Cuban revolution has avoided the failure of the oil-fueled populist invention—especially after the U.S. finally realized that maintaining an odd Cold War with Cuba was close to insanity. More…