Hugo Chavez’s legacy of economic nationalism and authoritarian rule will haunt Venezuela and its neighbors for years to come.
A country that was once one of the few democracies — albeit an imperfect one — in a region plagued by military dictatorships, Venezuela now lies at the bottom of hemispheric rankings on institutional quality and political and civil liberties.
Ironically, Chavez used elections, referenda and legal technicalities to destroy vital democratic institutions, such as the separation of powers and the independence of media — a model later replicated in Ecuador, Bolivia and Nicaragua.
“History will remember Hugo Chavez as an authoritarian caudillo whose policies set back Venezuela’s development and institutions by decades.”
Chavez called it “Socialism of the 21st century,” but its main features — messianic leadership, state control of key industries and political repression — more closely resemble the fascism that marred some South American countries in the past.
Venezuela’s social fabric will take years, if not decades, to mend. According to Transparency International, it’s now the most corrupt nation in Latin America. It’s also one of the most violent, with a staggering murder rate of 73 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.
Mais