Natalia Navarro
Comparative Political Economy
Analytical Paper #2
November 5, 2015
Question #3
Venezuela vs. Poland
In order to understand the reforms that occurred in Venezuela after the 1980’s both politically and economically it is important to study the origin of Bolivarianism. The term Bolivarianism originates after Simón Bolivar, a military and political leader born in Venezuela. Bolivar helped establish many sovereign states from the Spanish rule including Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. Venezuela has a petroleum based economy that allowed the construction of a democratic political regime that was based on a zero-sum framework around the 1960’s. Once the resources started diminishing around the 1980’s through 1990’s the political…show more content… Although there were many political achievements such as the modification of the constitutional framework as well as laws that enabled a stronger participation eventually resulting in political change that was strongly demanded. However, these political and economic reforms came at a price there was a lot a resistance from the Venezuelan people. The ongoing tension held by the people made itself very clear from 2001 to 2003 when the opposition attempted to force the resignation of Chavez. Venezuela suffered a catastrophic recession in 2002, “According to the Central Bank, in 2002 the variation of the GDP compared with the previous year register -8.9% and in 2003 it was -7.8%. For the oil industry, the variation registered was -14.8% for 2002 and -1.9% for 2003. In 2003 the unemployment rate reached 18.9% and by 2004 it had decreased only to 15.1%” (Lopez Maya, pg 222).The leadership of Hugo Chávez in 1998 marked the rise of the left in Latin America and especially the rise of the Bolivarian forces. The leadership of Hugo Chávez in 1998 marked the rise of the left in Latin America and especially the rise of the Bolivarian forces. After this devastating downfall for Venezuela's economy and political regime the government seeked an effective way to productively confront the political and economic impact that was created. Leading to the creation of the Endogenous Development Nuclei. This reform was created on the basis to offer solutions to the principles of participatory democracy for important social problems. This was used to strengthen the social economy as well as to gain social unity. The Bolivarian economy began to strengthen as the oil prices boomed and their international policy strongly promoted the multipolar international system. Controversy arose as Venezuela created more links with Cuba, Chavez wanted to make himself heard and known in the international system, verbally emphasizing his
