베네수엘라 차베스 개혁의 성과와 한계

Result and Limits of Venezuela's reform under Chavez

This article outlines Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez and his policy instruments in order to understand the nature of abrupt change in political, social and economic area in contemporary Venezuela. Chavez's campaign and eventual election in 1998 was fueled by a blend of extreme nationalism with socialism and militaristic ideas. Upon resuming power, Chavez began to focus on enacting social reforms, such as the land reform, the restoration of urban slums, the upgrade of healcare and education services for the poor. Chavez also employed an aggressive strategy to enhance the level of state control in oil industry by increasing loyalty and promoting joint venture with the multinational companies. In the international circle, Chevez seemed to skillfully manage to establish himself as a global and regional leader, using oil money and brash anti-anmericanism to attempt to construct a counterweight to U.S. power. However, for many Latin American governments Chavez is increasingly regarded as a burden rather than a model to follow. The paper will then outline the results and limits of Chavez's reform in two perspectives: distortion of party politics and revival of the Clientelism, and state control of the economy under state capitalism.