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Full profile page: Bc. Michal Procházka

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is one of the most famous figures in Latin America today. The steps of his policy of New Socialism in the 21st century have forced many political scientists to rethink the regime in Venezuela. The political reforms currently underway by the current Venezuelan president have led political scientists to link him to authoritarian regimes. Thanks to the historical legacy of Latin American states in the form of authoritarian regimes, which often appeared in power in the complex history of the region, the question arose as to whether the regime of Hugo Chávez could not be included among them.

As a basic division of political regimes, the work uses a division into democratic, authoritarian and totalitarian regimes. The simple and direct line between these concepts is probably impossible to determine with absolute precision. The fundamental problem remains the separation of clearly defined undemocratic totalitarian regimes and purely democratic ones. Authoritarian regimes as a separate entity move on the very edge of the two and connect certain parts of them, and therefore, as the definition of democratic regimes is not entirely clear, the naming of authoritarian regimes is difficult to separate.

Inspiration through the Iberian Peninsula is one of the historical reasons for the emergence of authoritarian regimes in Latin America. This interconnectedness dates back to the first conquistadors who brought Spain to the American continent and the political system of the then kingdom. The organization of the colonial society of Latin America, of course, followed the style of the other colonial powers.

The next chapter will focus on the history of Venezuela and its experience with undemocratic regimes, as well as the phenomenon of current President Hugo Chávez, a strong representative of the Bolivarian Republic, and will seek to shed light on the position and style of government. The facts presented here will then serve to analyze the Chávez regime in the final chapter.

President Hugo Chávez has dedicated his government to the fight against the neoliberal economy, US President Bush and other influences that pose a threat to his Venezuelan people. The result was an initiative to promote revolutionary socialism in the 21st century. This mix of steps leading to increasing alienation from the outside world has brought him great support from its people and a contradictory response both on the American continent and overseas.

In assessing the current ten years of the Hugo Chávez regime, several aspects of his government need to be taken into account. The main fact that speaks for the democracy of the Hugo Chávez regime is his re-election. Although he changed the constitution in February 2009 and can therefore be elected in the next presidential election in 2012, he must still win this battle with opposition candidates in the public field.

Authoritarian regimes in Latin America on the example of Hugo Chávez. The aim of this work is to find out whether the regime of Hugo Chávez can be classified as an authoritarian regime or whether it is a democratic regime.

Authoritarian regimes in Latin America on the example of Hugo Chávez: References