Skip to content
mixed-martial-arts — Grand-prix — american-football — Tennis — Venezuelanalysis — Nfl — Football — Calibrating — Fires — Hockey — Nhl — Nba — Racing — sports — Career-development — Soccer — Personal-growth — War-and-conflicts — Masters — productivity — sports-betting — Champions-league — Baseball — Politics — Auto-racing — Job-search — Goal-setting — Ncaa-basketball — Serie-a — learning — Mindfulness — Crime-and-justice — Fair — Accidents — Golf — general-news — lifelong-learning — Horse-racing — Wnba — Ncaa-football — Car-accidents — skills-training — basketball — Laliga — Inequality — Migration — Online-education — Artillery — European-leagues — sports-analysis — Mlb — Premier-league

Maintaining Vigilance Over Expansionist Policies

Discussion with Ricardo Vaz on the extensive imperialist aggressions towards Venezuela and the global support movement.

,   and  Administrator
7 min read

Maintaining Vigilance Over Expansionist Policies

Rewritten Article:

Venezuela's Elections and the Fight for Grassroots Democracy

The 28th July presidential elections have once again thrust Venezuela into the global spotlight, as political unrest, street protests, media manipulation, and increased imperialist aggression cast a dark shadow over the country. As Venezuelans prepare for a challenging future, let's delve into the question of democracy and examine the country's commitment to grassroots democracy through commune-based structures.

The Struggle for a True Democracy

First, it's crucial to acknowledge that the Venezuelan elections were anything but free and fair. A country under the tight grip of a brutal blockade and experiencing relentless economic terrorism, officially labeled as "neocolonial diktat" by critics, is hardly a level playing field for a "free and fair" vote. The reality is that Venezuelans went to the polls with fear hanging over them.

Dismissing electoral controversy while downplaying or overlooking the broader context of US hybrid warfare is intellectually dishonest. Recognizing this uneven playing field is a vital first step in fighting back against US-led imperialism and its corporate media artillery.

At its core, the Bolivarian Revolution has always been about democracy – but not just the empty form of periodically casting votes. Instead, Venezuela has been a testing ground for various revolutionary experiments in grassroots, assembly-based democracy, with the commune being its most advanced expression. In the vision of Hugo Chávez, communes serve as the "unit cells" for the construction of socialism, existing as self-governing entities in specific territories.

Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks in recent years, popular power has displayed impressive potential for transforming society.

The United States' Reaction

Immediately following the CNE's declaration of Maduro's victory, the United States' reaction took a familiar tone, with officials claiming entitlement to speak on behalf of "the Venezuelan people." As the hardline opposition declared its own triumph, Secretary of State Antony Blinken couldn't resist recognizing far-right candidate Edmundo González as "president-elect." This resonated with Juan Guaidó's infamous claim to be the "interim president." Despite later retractions, the US affirmation of a "transition" and support for regional mediation efforts from Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, were hardly a sign of backing down.

For the past 25 years, US regime-change efforts have been an ever-present force in Venezuela, especially following Hugo Chávez's death in 2013. Media disinformation, NGO financing, overt coup attempts, economic sanctions – these tactics have been continually employed by Washington in its quest to overthrow the Nicolás Maduro government. In the lead-up to the election, the corporate media had already anointed González the victor, while unnamed US officials threatened to adjust sanctions based on the election outcome – a familiar euphemism for policies that have resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths every year since 2017.

Although Washington finds itself focusing on prolonging its proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and actively supporting Israel's genocidal war in Palestine, it remains to be seen whether the Biden administration will escalate its regime-change campaign against Venezuela. For now, regional stability appears to be a top priority.

The Maduro government and the Chavista movement face numerous challenges as they look to the future. The election results saw a significant portion of the electorate backing arguably the most radical far-right presidential candidate in recent Venezuelan history. While Maria Corina Machado did not appear on the ballot, she was pulling the strings of the actual candidate, Edmundo González.

Machado's past includes affiliations with the George W. Bush era, support for previous coup attempts, calls for foreign invasions, and an enthusiastic endorsement of US-led sanctions. Her program entails unfettered neoliberalism and a vow to "eradicate socialism." With the Biden administration favoring her over other opposition candidates more open to negotiation with the Maduro government, it's clear that Machado is the chosen candidate of Washington.

Like Argentina's Milei and Brazil's Bolsonaro, Machado represents a local manifestation of peripheral fascism that has taken root across the South, emboldened by the devastating social consequences of income deflation, sanctions, wars of encroachment, and other forms of "accumulation by waste" perpetrated by a rabid imperialism. Existential threat posed by these forces to the Bolivarian grassroots movements has prompted them to fortify their defenses.

As the tide of US-sponsored fascism threatens working people not just in Venezuela but worldwide, our internationalist solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution must remain unwavering.

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Venezuelanalysis editorial staff.

Enrichment Data:

The history and significance of commune-based democracy in Venezuela are deeply tied to the Bolivarian Revolution, a transformative political and social movement led by President Hugo Chávez. This movement aimed to decentralize power, promote grassroots democracy, and empower communities through communal organizations.

Background of the Bolivarian Revolution

The Bolivarian Revolution emerged in the late 1990s with Hugo Chávez's rise to power. The movement advocated for a shift towards socialism and the decentralization of political and economic power. Inspired by the ideals of Simón Bolívar, the revolution aimed to unify and liberate South America from external influence and internal oligarchy[1].

Communes and Grassroots Democracy

Communes serve as assembly-based grassroots organizations that play a key role in Chávez's vision of participatory democracy. Typically formed by the aggregation of communal councils and social movements, communes are comprised of dozens of families from the same neighborhood and are responsible for managing local affairs and projects. By consolidating several councils into a commune, communities gain more autonomy over their territories and resources[1].

  • Legal Registration: To access state resources and funding, communes must register legally with the Ministry of Communes.
  • Governance and Projects: Communes often manage community spaces, social property enterprises, and socio-productive initiatives. They fashion their own governance structures, political objectives, and community projects[1].

Significance Within the Bolivarian Context

  • Decentralization of Power: The commune model serves as a mechanism to decentralize power by giving local communities control over their development and resources. This strategy reflects the Bolivarian goal of empowering the masses and reducing central government dominance.
  • Participatory Democracy: The commune model promotes participatory democracy by encouraging citizens to participate actively in decision-making processes. This active engagement is considered essential for building a more inclusive and democratic society[1].

Challenges and Criticisms

  • Variable Success and Development: The success of communes varies significantly across different regions. Many are still developing governance structures, political objectives, and projects, demonstrating that the commune movement is an ongoing process[1].
  • Critiques of Democratic Backsliding: While communes embody a form of grassroots democracy, critics argue that the broader political environment in Venezuela has seen democratic backsliding, characterized by electoral irregularities, suppression of opposition voices, and the concentration of power in state institutions aligned with the ruling party[2].

In summary, commune-based democracy in Venezuela plays a vital role in the Bolivarian Revolution, seeking to democratize power, promote grassroots participation, and foster community development. However, the project faces internal challenges, with varying levels of success among communes, and external criticism for democratic decline in the broader political landscape of Venezuela.

  1. The upcoming Venezuelan elections, embroiled in controversy and political unrest, are a reflection of the country's struggle for a true democracy.
  2. In a nation gripped by a harsh blockade and economic terrorism, fair elections are scarcely possible, creating an unlevel playing field.
  3. Recognizing this imbalance is a necessary first step in countering US-led imperialism and its manipulative media artillery.
  4. The Bolivarian Revolution's mission, under Hugo Chávez, has always been about democracy – not just the superficial practice of voting.
  5. Venezuela, a testbed for grassroots assembly-based democracy, considers communes as self-governing entities and the building blocks of socialism.
  6. Despite setbacks, popular power has shown remarkable potential for transforming society through commune-based structures.
  7. The US government's response to the elections has remained consistent, claiming to represent the "Venezuelan people" and recognizing the far-right candidate as the winner.
  8. For two and a half decades, US regime-change efforts have been a persistent threat in Venezuela, particularly after Hugo Chávez's death in 2013.
  9. Media disinformation, NGO financing, coup attempts, economic sanctions – these tactics have been tools of Washington's quest to dismantle the Nicolás Maduro government.
  10. In the election's run-up, corporate media already declared the radical far-right candidate the victor, while unnamed US officials threatened to adjust sanctions based on election results.
  11. As Washington grapples with prolonging its proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and supporting Israel's war in Palestine, its intentions towards Venezuela remain unclear.
  12. Navigating the challenges ahead, the Maduro government and Chavista movement must contend with a sizable portion of the electorate backing a radically far-right presidential candidate.
  13. Maria Corina Machado, the puppet master behind the actual candidate, represents the local embodiment of South American peripheral fascism.
  14. Machado's affiliations with the Bush administration, past coup attempts, and support for US-led sanctions make her a favored candidate of Washington.
  15. Argentina's Milei and Brazil's Bolsonaro share similarities with Machado, embodying the devastating social consequences of imperialism.
  16. The existential threat these forces pose to the Bolivarian grassroots movements demands heightened defenses.
  17. International solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution is essential as US-sponsored fascism threatens workers worldwide.
  18. At the heart of the Bolivarian Revolution lies the history and significance of commune-based democracy.
  19. Inspired by the ideas of Simón Bolívar, this movement aims at liberating South America from external influence and internal oligarchy.
  20. Communes are assembly-based grassroots organizations that stem from the aggregation of communal councils and social movements.
  21. Communes, with dozens of families from the same neighborhood, are responsible for managing local affairs and projects, and their governance structures are fashioned democratically.
  22. By registering legally with the Ministry of Communes, communes can access state resources and funding to execute community projects.
  23. Communes often manage community spaces, social property enterprises, and socio-productive initiatives.
  24. The commune model serves as a mechanism to decentralize power and empower local communities, reflecting the Bolivarian goal of empowering the masses.
  25. Participatory democracy is promoted through the commune model, encouraging citizens' active engagement in decision-making processes.
  26. Despite varying levels of success among communes, the project encounters internal criticism for democratic decline in the broader political landscape of Venezuela.
  27. The Bolivarian Revolution's quest for grassroots democracy and community development continues to evolve, influenced by the challenges and controversies surrounding it.
Discourse by Ricardo Vaz, a Venezuelanalysis member, delves into the broader perspective of imperialist hostilities directed toward Venezuela and global unity in response.
Discourse with Venezuelanalysis affiliate Ricardo Vaz delves into the broader context of imperialist onslaughts targeting Venezuela, including global harmony and mutual assistance.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest