HUGO CHAvEZ AND THE BOLlVARIAN MESSAGE

Abstract

One would be hard pressed to arrive in Venezuela and not find symbolic forms of Simon Bollvar everywhere. Be it a statue, a painting, or veneration of the Libertador on AI6 Presidente, the weekly television program of Hugo Chavez, current President of Venezuela. Botrvar is doubtlessly considered one of the most influential figures in Latin American liberation movements. Many historical leaders have emphasized Bolivar's values, yet none so much as Hugo Chavez. Since his inauguration, Chavez has vowed to realize the dreams of Simon Bolivar through his ideology known as 21st Century Socialism. When we titled this year's symposium as "Venezuela: From Bolrvar to Chavez, " we sought to bridge the current president's regime with the original Liberatador. Many of our panelists reflected on Venezuela's past to explain the country's current issues. This paper serves to encapsulate the perspectives on Chavez and his interpretation ofSimon Bollvar's thought. Bolivar's name is implemented in many of Chaveis programs (Plan Bolivar), international organizations (Bolivarian Alternative to the Americasl ~ and even in renaming the country in 1999 to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Article 1 of the Constitution reads: "The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is irrevocably free and independent, basing its moral property and values of freedom, equality, justice and international peace on the doctrine of Simon Botrvar, the Liberatorlll1 • Yet at what