The Threat
Hugo Chavez came to power in 1998 promising change in the form of a Bolivarian Revolution. He wished to redistribute the wealth gained by the Venezuela oil fields to the lower social-economic groups. He invested in health, housing and educational programs modeling the Venezuelan society in a socialist fashion. The Threat shows positive responses as well as the negative results of the Bolivarian Missions. For example, some missions are a threat to the livelihood of immigrant communities of Italian and Portuguese descent. Readying themselves to leave the country, these communities leave an economic gap as well as a knowledge deficit in important industries. Also the water supply of many parts of the country is not sufficient after its decentralization process has been stalled. Also the increasing violence and the inefficiency of many hospitals increases the tensions in Venezuela. The contradictory character of the Bolivarian Revolution leaves an ambivalent feeling about the future of Venezuela under President Chavez.
In this eye opening portret of Hugo Chavez...
…the Bolivarian Revolution is depicted as a threat to the Venezuelan dream of a better life. With Chavez content a camera crew is invited to capture some of his daily routine and to discuss his worldview. The question arises if, in our post-ideological times, socialism as a state ideology is still feasible. Violent deaths, collapsing hospitals, water shortages and the restriction of freedom of speech show the tensions within the Chavismo ideals. These problems exist on a daily basis, effecting people emotionally and physically. The Bolivarian Missions of social justice and anti-poverty seem to be difficult to implement in the complex societies of today
Political Relevance
After Simon Bolivar struggled for independence, the political culture of Venezuela has been dominated by political turmoil and dictatorship. Until the mid-twentieth century military strongmen have been in power. After 1958 Venezuela has had several democratically elected governments and the oil reservoirs, the economic boom and the influx of immigrants from Spain, Italy and Portugal, created a diversified society. Although foreign relations with most Western countries have been friendly, the political relationship between the United States and Venezuela has worsened over the years. The Bolivarian Revolution has its impact not only domestically, but internationally as well. The Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas ALBA is an initiative to weaken the strength of the dollar in Latin America, creating a less dependent position of allied countries. The close ties of Hugo Chavez with Russia, Cuba, China and Iran also cause unrest among United States politicians. The Venezuelan international political role is mostly based on their large petroleum reserves and The Threat shows that this advantage seems to be the starting point of the Bolivarian Missions.
Scenes
- Venezuela 2007 – Bolivarian Revolution and Consolidation Socialism
- In 1998 Hugo Chavez becomes the first mestizo president of Venezuela. In this interview Chavez talks about the rich oil reserves in Venezuela and that they should protect this asset with an integrated air defence system. Because of the difficult relationship with the United Sates, Chavez wishes to protect himself against any invasion. He also explains that he, as a president, should keep in touch with his people. By broadcasting his show Alo Presidente, he “bombs” his people with information.
- Nationalization Orinoco Oil Belt
- The portable TV station, owned by Chavez, crosses the Orinoco river and its oil reservoir. According to Chavez, oil is the reason why there is pressure from the US against his Bolivarian Revolution. Bolivar freed Venezuela from the Empire and therefore freed its oil. Now the oil belongs to the people of the world and not to a profit making company.
- Water Supply and Social Housing
- Although oil comes cheap, water supply in Venezuela is still a problem. The participation of the people in the Bolivarian Revolution is mandatory, eventhough socialism does not solve their everyday problems. Poverty and health are still big problems in Venezuela. These people question the motives of the government for nationalizing oil and building new houses, when old problems are still not being solved.
- Alo Presidente
- In his weekly talkshow, Hugo Chavez talks about issues that concern Venezuela. Every news item is discussed. Chavez is not shy to express his opinions about democracy, socialism, capitalism and former colonial powers. Oil and poverty seem to be the main issues within the framework of politics and economic models. Venezuelan oil socialism, is the catchfrase of this episode.
- Shortage and the Bolivarian Constitution
- The supply of different types of food is a problem in Venezuela. The idea of socialism might be that everyone has equal access to all resources, reality proves to be otherwise. Logistic problems, as well as international trade crush this socialist ideal. An interesting detail of this scene is that some of the domestic products have a part of the Bolivarian Constitution on the package.
- New Ways of Thinking
- The new ways of thinking are destributed throughout Venezuela through Alo Presidento. The ideas of Hugo Chavez are considered to be a totally different model of socialism. The Bolivarian Missions are implemented in the political administration of Venezuela, designed only for this particular culture and country. These guidelines are the basis of the Venezuelan Socialism of the 21st Century, a term coined by Heinz Dieterich.
- Creating the Missions
- Pueblo Nuevo de La Sierra, Falcon State- Center of Rehabilitation. Cuban doctors come to Venezuela for four years to practice medicine and help the Venezuelan people for free. The Missions, however, are overcrowded, under employed and under supplied. Public healthcare is not as developed as it is in Cuba. One of the goals of this program is to educate the employees of the hospital in order to create Venezuelan doctors.
- Unrestricted Presidential Re-election
- Hugo Chavez beleives that it is democratic to give the people of Venezuela the opportunity to re-elect their President as often as they want. He proposes a new Constitution which enables the people to do so. In France the people also have the right to choose their President as often as they want, however, it is questionable if these two democracies are comparable in this matter.
- Centre of Socialists Cooperatives
- In this scene the cooperative employees are interviewed. They believe that the system of Socialist Cooperatives in Venezuela provides benefits to those that earn and need it, not, when working for a capitalist company, to those who already have them. Due to this system they feel like they are being part of the socialist revolution and are contributing something to their country. Several industries have implemented this concept of collective national production, such as several garment, computer and car factories, to promote import substitution. However, the commodities made are not solely Venezuelan, but many of them are a product of international cooperation between countries such as China and Iran.
- Constitutional Reform: Referendum Called
- Chavez introduces the new constitutional reform in august 2007, creating even more polarization within society. Differences between groups are radicalized. The new political and economical ideas promote a communal and social Venezuela. However, these ideas are not shared within the enitre Venezuelan community.
- Italian Resistance
- After many years of hard work, the Italian community is afraid of losing their gained possesions. They invested many hours of labor and money into the Venezuelan economy. Now, if the new political and economical reforms are introduced, they will lose their investments and their way of life. The believe that the inefficiency of the government does not create a better life for the people, but instead causes more poverty.
- Life in the Slums
- The slums are Venezuela’s number one problem. Crime and poverty terrorize the streets and are difficult to reduce. Chavez promises to handle these threats, but is so far unable to control them. In 2007 many inhabitants of the slums consider themselves revolutionaries, in 2009 however, Chavez is loosing votes because he has not diminished the killings and crime in these neighborhoods (Reuter news). The slum and its problems grows every day.
- Shantytown Water Problems
- Water supply is a huge issue in the shantytowns of Venezuela. In these slums the people do not have enough water and lack te money to buy expensive bottled water. They desperately need an aquaduct en many feel that the concept of equality is not served here, as is preached by Chavez. Inhabitants try to draw on groundwater using hydraulic pumps in order to survive.
- The Community Provides for Their Own
- People invested their savings in a communal program that would provide water pipes so that everyone would have drinking water and a drainage system. This way, the families who were able to invest their money would themselves be able to build these water systems. The community took it upon themselves to improve living conditions, not the government. One man explains that this community learnt from the Constitution that if you work together you can accomplish things.
- Overcrowded Hospitals
- At one of the hospitals in Perare parents are waiting for new on their injured children. During the weekend the shoot-outs increase, killing between 30 to 40 people. Most of this voilence is among minors. Increasing voilence combined with the overcrowded hospitals and morgues are a pressing issue in Venezuela. The clinics also have a medicine deficit.
- Italians Leaving
- The European immigrants feel that the situation in Venezuela has got too complicated in the last few years. They prepare to leave the country that no longer abides by their ideas and ideals. They believe, due to the new constitution, a dictatorship is at hand which will push them aside. Also the fear of violence is a big push factor out of the country.
- Student Movement Groups and Freedom of Speech
- In May 2007 the television channel RadioCaracasTV was denied a new licence and was no longer able to broadcast. They were accused of Anti-Chavez sentiments and of supporting the coupe d’état of 2002. To protest the removal of RCTV and the violation of their Freedom of Speech, student groups organised a march. The peaceful demonstration ended in chaos when the politce began using teargas bombs and opened fire against students.