Venezuela's Integration Initiatives Under the Government of Hugo Chavez: Current Influence and Future Prospects.
| Autor | Ana Carolina Romero |
| Cargo | Universidad de Bath,Londres - Inglaterra |
| Páginas | 74-95 |
FRONESIS
Revista de Filosofía Jurídica, Social y Política
Instituto de Filosofía del Derecho Dr. J.M. Delgado Ocando
Universidad del Zulia. ISSN 1315-6268 - Dep. legal pp 199402ZU33
Vol. 19, No. 1, 2012: 74 - 95
Venezuela’s Integration Initiatives
Under the Government of Hugo Chavez:
Current Influence and Future Prospects
Ana Carolina Romero
Universidad de Bath, UK
Londres - Inglaterra
anacarolina.romerovilchez@googlemail.com
Abstract
This work originates in research divided into three projects, each considered a
case study whose objective was to identify the different instruments through which
President Hugo Chávez exercises power. The research is based on the assumption
that the set of those instruments acts as a system of networks that stimulates new
methods for integration. The principles of Bolivarian foreign policy are especially
present in the ALBA initiative, which is presented as Chávez’s main tool for strength-
ening tactical and strategic alliances with Latin American countries. ALBA resists and
responds to the US-sponsored Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) by
promoting alternative methods for economic and social development.
Keywords: ALBA, Latin America, integration, Free Trade Agreement of the
Americas (FTAA), Washington Consensus, Bolivarianism.
Recibido: 12-06-2011 ·Aceptado: 10-10-2011
Iniciativas de Integración de Venezuela
en el Gobierno de Hugo Chávez: Influencias actuales
y perspectivas para el futuro
Resumen
Este trabajo se origina en una investigación dividida en tres proyectos consi-
derados cada uno como un estudio de caso, cuyo objetivo es el de identificar los di-
ferentes instrumentos mediante los cuales el Presidente Hugo Chávez ejerce el po-
der. La investigación se basa en la hipótesis de que el conjunto de esos instrumen-
tos actúan en la forma de un sistema de redes que estimulan nuevos métodos de in-
tegración. Los principios de la política exterior bolivariana están especialmente pre-
sentes en la iniciativa del ALBA, la cual es presentada como la principal herramien-
ta de Chávez para reforzar alianzas tácticas y estratégicas con los países latinoameri-
canos. El ALBA resiste y responde al Tratado de Libre Comercio de las Américas
impulsado por los Estados Unidos (TLC), al promover métodos alternativos para el
desarrollo económico y social.
Palabras clave: ALBA, Latinoamérica, Integración, Tratado de Libre Comercio,
Consenso de Washington, Bolivarianismo.
1. Introduction
“Look the flags waving everywhere, the flags of our people. We, deep in-
side us, are all one flag. The flag of Bolivar, Artigas, San Martin, Sand-
ino, Che…the flag of Tupac; those are our flags of struggle, of battle and
victory.”
Hugo Chávez
1.1. Context of Analysis
In 1998, Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías was elected President of Vene-
zuela, introducing the “Socialism of the XXI century”. The incumbent has
been trying for the last decade to export his “Bolivarian Revolution” to
Latin America and the Caribbean in an attempt to use it as a tool to inte-
grate the region. The dramatic increases of oil prices in the last decade and
the support of left-leaning governments and the masses have made Chávez
an influential figure in the region. His influence in the area can be ex-
plored by examining the integrationist proposals he has put forth: the Bo-
livarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), Television del Sur (Telesur),
Banco del Sur (Bank of the South) and Petro-America.
Venezuela’s Integration Initiatives Under the Government of Hugo Chavez:
Current Influence and Future Prospects 75
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