Customer Reviews

The Battle of Venezuela (Open Media Series)

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With Venezuela and the Hugo Chavez government increasingly in the news today this important primer gives the reader a broad and comprehensive understanding of the rise of Chavez in Venezuela. McCaughan's engaged analysis informs an understanding of the rise to power of Hugo Chavez, the extent of his support and democratic legitimacy among the population of Venezuela, the background to his ideology and the political history of other social forces in Venezuelan society. For anyone interested in the development of Venezuela under Hugo Chavez and the new political pole emerging in South America this is an excellent book.

A must read for anyone interested in the new developments in Venezuela and the South. McCaughan does a great job in setting the historical context and then elaborating on Chavez -- with a welcomed inclusion of pros and cons, such as personal ambitions versus citizens advances accomplished over the years.

I purchased this book hoping to get an objective look at the events that brought Chavez to power in Venezuela. Maybe that was not realistic given how polarizing Chavez is. The truth is that this book tells the story of the "Battle of Venezuela" from a left wing point of view. If that's what you're looking for then you'll probably enjoy it. That is all fine and good, but buyer beware.