Jon Lee Anderson (Che biographer) on Hugo Chavez

[CHE with an AK]

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Anderson's 800 page biography Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life is quite good and seen as the definitive work on the topic ...

thus I believe his take on Venezuela's Chavez could be notable to some.

[RadioRaheem84]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLaMIfquH1Q

Well look at what the US thinks of Chavez.

Same ol' he is Hitler rhetoric.

[RedSonRising]

Thanks for this, I'm a huge fan of his biography.

[RadioRaheem84]

What would other examples of "small a authoritarians" are there?

[RedSonRising]

What would other examples of "small a authoritarians" are there?

From my perspective those akin to Castro, Lenin, Tito...populist and often socialist leaders with the support of the people who govern with institutions in which they are involved, but who have a large amount of individual power which may often supersede formal organs of representative politics.

[RadioRaheem84]

From my perspective those akin to Castro, Lenin, Tito...populist and often socialist leaders with the support of the people who govern with institutions in which they are involved, but who have a large amount of individual power which may often supersede formal organs of representative politics.

Did they not assume those roles because of constant threat to the survival of their revolutions?

Could we say Chavez has that sort of threat looming over him?

[RedSonRising]

Did they not assume those roles because of constant threat to the survival of their revolutions?

Could we say Chavez has that sort of threat looming over him?

That's what I think. The opportunities that a constant shift in leadership would present in the PSUV for imperialism to exploit just can't be afforded. That, and the process of redistributing property and reorganizing the political structure requires consistency. I do consider Chavez's elections legitimate though. He simply affords himself a lot of power within the position given to him by the majority.