by Chesa Boudin, Gabriel Gonzalez, Wilmer Rumbos
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Product Description
There is one country in the Americas that the Bush Administration regards as a significant threat to U.S. interests, and it is not Cuba. Oil-rich Venezuela's democratically-elected government has survived repeated, U.S.-supported attempts to undermine its power, including a short lived military coup. Its leader, President Hugo Chávez, is neither communist nor capitalist, and instead claims to be creating an alternative 21st Century socialism that courts international capital. What is the real story behind this leader of Latin America's lurch to the left? Is it a new petro-populism in the tradition of Peron and Fujimori, or is it truly a progressive, home-grown democratic revolution that will address the massive economic and social inequalities plaguing the region for more than three centuries? The curiosity of a North American living in Venezuela and the expertise of two Venezuelans—one an adviser in the Presidential Palace, and the other a journalist with a weekly column in one of Venezuela's leading newspapers—bring insiders' answers to outsiders' questions, such as: Is Chávez a dictator? What was the role of the Bush Administration in the 2002 military coup? What is Chávez's political platform? Does Chávez work with terrorist governments to undermine U.S. interests?
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Average Customer Review:
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
 Excellent overview, 2007-03-25
This is an excellent, fair-minded, exhaustive overview of Venezuelan history, particularly just prior to and during Chavez.
And it was written in July 2005, so it is pretty up to date.
The authors are clearly on the side of Chavez, but they treat the opposition (the wealthy elite that had ruled for 2 centuries; the corporations; the U.S. government) in great depth--so much so, that it is difficult to see how anyone not in opposition pay could differ.
The only flaw is a dry, dry, dry academic style. But this is minor.
The depth and wealth of information make for great reading.
Clearly, Venezuela is of concern to U.S. policymakers because of oil. If such vast oil reserves are not in the control of the U.S. and corporate interests, what might happen in Saudi Arabia???? Or Iraq???? (Oh, we tried that, and are failing.)
Worse still, in the minds of U.S. policymakers, Chavez is on a crusade to show the rest of South America (maybe even the world), that they don't have to be U.S. colonies any more.
Hence the "Bolivarian" name of his effort--to free the countries from outside domination.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
 So Chavez is a 'dictator' eh?, 2006-11-03
While admittedly this book is pro-Venezuela I found it extremely helpful and easily accessible for a beginner's lesson in Venezuelan history and politics. The format of 100 questions and answers makes it very easy to reference back to certain issues after completing the book. The topics vary across the board and the questions are only answered in a very general sense but that is the point of book-- it is to be used as a stepping stone towards a greater understanding of this country. The author made it a point to keep it general and invites readers to pursue their own research if interested in greater details. The writing was a collaborative effort on the part of several authors, each with very different backgrounds so as to make the book as 'objective' as possible. I wouldn't call the book objective but I would definitely recommend this book to all Americans-- particularly in this time of American anti-Venezuelan propaganda.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
A Must Read!!!, 2006-01-18
This book is a short, well written, and easy to read introduction to the current political, social, and economic changes occuring today in Venezuela. Creatively organized into 100 basic questions and answers around the chapters/topics of "The Politics of the of the Bolivarian Revolution," "International Relations," "The New Constitution," "Participatory Democracy," "The Missions and Social Programs," "The April 11, 2002 Coup," "The Media," "Oil," "Economy and Land Reform," and "The Future of the Bolivarian Revolution," this work will leave the reader with a great introductory understanding of the current Chavez Regime. Indeed, this book fills the gap that the media in the US/UK (who often dismissed Chavez as a "populist fireband") have failed to provide the last 6 years. The work presents not just necessary facts, but explores the peaceful innovative methods the majority of Venezuelans are utilizing to alleviate their country from poverty in order to create a more just society. It is written by a student, jounralist, and analyst to Chavez's team of advisors. The authors present the sucesses, failures, and goals of the Revolution, the aurgements of the opposition, the problems the Revolution faces, and a coherent history of contemporary Venezuela. I recommend this book to people with an interest in Latin America, current global/oil politics, grassroots politics, progressive social movements, and/or those who are simply seeking the means to improve their local and national communities because in this respect many Venezuelans are leading the way and providing examples. Fantastic book, hats off to Boudin and company.
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