Changing Venezuela by Taking Power: The History and Policies of the Chavez Government (Paperback)

by Gregory Wilpert (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Venezuela under Hugo Chávez could be a model for peaceful revolution—or it could all be undone by the specters of the past. Since coming to power in 1998, the Chavez government has inspired both fierce internal debate and horror amongst Western governments accustomed to counting on an obeisant regime in the oil-rich state. Is Venezuela going through a peaceful, democratic "Bolivarian revolution," with the country's poor becoming politically engaged and beginning to share its oil wealth? Or is Chavez leading his country towards Latin American caudillismo at best, or Castro-style communism at worst?

In this rich and resourceful study, Greg Wilpert exposes the self-serving logic behind much middle-class opposition to Venezuela's elected leader, and explains the real reason for their alarm. He argues that the Chavez government has instituted one of the world's most progressive constitutions, but warns that they have yet to overcome the dangerous specters of the country's past: its culture of patronage and clientelism, its corruption, and its support for personality cults all of them fueled by the attention and interference of a succession of US administrations.

About the Author
Gregory Wilpert is a sociologist, freelance journalist, and a former US Fulbright Scholar in Venezuela.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Verso; 1 edition (June 29, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844675521
• ISBN-13: 978-1844675524
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #317,237 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most informative and balanced report on Venezuela today, November 8, 2007

By	Dada Maheshvarananda (Caracas, Venezuela) - See all my reviews

The author, who for several years has been running the excellent web page, www.venezuelanalysis.com, is one of the best specialists in Venezuela today. He with his wife Carol Delgado (whom he credits in the acknowledgements as being in effect a co-author) have compiled the most insightful book about the changes that Venezuela has undergone at every level.

He does not avoid the problems and shortcomings of the Bolivarian Revolution. His extensive work with integral thinker Ken Wilber deepens his analysis as he uncovers layer upon layer of governance and culture to understand the true reality of what is happening. The most comprehensive and well-written report on the social experiment that the whole world is watching. Invaluable.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book covering a whole range of aspects, February 22, 2008

By	C. Albrechtsen - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great book which covers many different aspects of the Chavez government, as well as giving some background into the country politics, before and during Chavez. It is a great book since it not only presents some facts, but also makes good analysis of the ongoing politics in Venezuela. This is a must for anyone who wants to know more on Venezuela and the Chavez politics.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something Useful , March 28, 2008

By	Mr. Seng C. Soh (Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Changing Venezuela: The History and Policies of the Chavez Government (Hardcover)

This book unlike any other book written on the Hugo Chavez governments policies went into a great detail on how well the Chavez government has been performing in its attempts to ride the country of judicial corruption, reform land distribution, building cooperatives, spending of social security for Venezuela's poor. It is not only a book filled with rhetoric for left wing writers but had concrete facts and figures about the Chavez revolution. I would throughly recommend this book, if you were trying to research the effects of the Chavez governments economic and social policies.