Venezuela: The end of a revolution?

[Bacchus4.0]

Divide et impera. This phrase is ancient. The Roman Empire knew that dividing societies was a powerful strategy for success. History, however, has told us that this "success" was temporary, and always accompanied by huge loss. Today, Venezuela is a divided country, possibly the most polarised it has ever been in its young history. Division and antagonism, mostly promoted by the government, is a daily experience.

Venezuelans, protesting for a better future, are branded "fascists", and those that support the regime are called "ignorant". This division goes beyond national borders, and has played out in the global media as much as in the streets.

After fifteen years of Chavismo (named after the late president Hugo Chavez), or Madurismo (for current President Nicolas Maduro), the country is facing a devastating crisis. Chavez himself warned before assuming the presidency that if the revolution would not deliver what it was promising, people would go on to the streets and take him down. Does this wave of protests fulfil Chavez's prophecy, and the end of the Bolivarian revolution? Partly, yes.


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Today Venezuela is more dependent on its oil revenues than it was ever before. While in 1999 oil represented 76 percent of exports, in 2012, this number rose to 96 percent. The economy remains undiversified and the trade has suffered severe setbacks. Moreover, the appreciation of the exchange rate made imports cheaper, and rising oil prices decreased the necessity for national production.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/03/venezuela-end-revolution-201431994958327581.html

[Oele]

1. A typical fascist article from the US imperialists at Al Jazeera! n/t

[uncommonlink]

2. Sarcasm?

[Marksman_91]

3. I believe so. Oele has been critical of the Ven government in the past n/t

[uncommonlink]

4. I thought so, just wanted to make sure.

Not familiar with Oele's position on the Venezuelan govt.
Around here, sometimes it's hard to tell.

Thanks for the info.