Hugo Chavez Period as a Case of Populist Leadership in Venezuela (1998–2013)

Year 2023, , 101 - 111, 29.12.2023

Selin Karana , Beyza Yangın

https://doi.org/10.5152/JIRS.2023.23027

Abstract

The Latin American region provides an opportunity to analyze populism as a phenomenon that appears in different times and countries. Venezuela, as one of the countries in the region, attracts attention with the political transformation it has experienced recently. In this regard, this study will examine the main reasons for this transformation in its political system. Hugo Chavez caused the Venezuelan political system to radically change with the policies he followed during his 15-year rule, which lasted from 1998 to 2013. Through the social welfare programs that Chavez followed and the practices implemented in the context of the Bolivarian revolution, Chavez succeeded in transforming the Venezuelan political system. In this context, thanks to political support he garnered by displaying a populist leadership, Chavez could radicalize his power by drafting the 1999 Constitution and declaring 21st-century socialism vision which led to polarization of the society, democratic backsliding, and authoritarianism of the regime. This article argues that the authoritarianism of the Chavez and subsequent Nicolas Maduro administrations resulted from the conditions created by the populist policies that Chavez followed during his presidential terms.

Keywords

Democracy, Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, Latin America, Populism

Venezuela’da Popülist Liderlik Örneği Olarak Hugo Chavez Dönemi (1998–2013)

Abstract

Latin Amerika bölgesi, farklı zaman ve ülkelerde karşımıza çıkan bir olgu olması itibariyle popülizmi inceleyebilmeye imkân tanımaktadır. Bölge ülkelerinden Venezuela ise son dönemde yaşadığı siyasi dönüşümle dikkat çekmektedir. Bu doğrultuda bu çalışma, Venezuela’nın siyasi sistemindeki söz konusu dönüşümün temel sebeplerini inceleyecektir. Hugo Chavez, 1998 yılından 2013 yılına kadar süren 15 yıllık iktidarında uyguladığı politikalarla Venezuela siyasi sisteminin kökten değişmesine neden olmuştur. İzlemiş olduğu sosyal refah programları ve Bolivarcı devrim bağlamında yapmış olduğu uygulamalar aracılığıyla Chavez, Venezuela siyasi sistemini dönüştürmeyi başarmıştır. Bu bağlamda Chavez’in popülist bir liderlik sergileyerek elde etmiş olduğu destek sonucunda oluşturulan 1999 Anayasası ve 2005 yılında ilan ettiği 21. Yüzyıl Sosyalizmi vizyonuyla Chavez yönetiminin radikalleşmesi ve toplumun giderek kutuplaşması Venezuela demokrasisinin gerilemesine ve rejimin otoriterleşmesine yol açmıştır. Bu makale, Chavez ve sonrasındaki Nicolas Maduro iktidarlarının otoriterleşmesinin, Chavez’in başkanlık dönemleri boyunca izlemiş olduğu popülist politikaların yarattığı koşullardan kaynaklandığını öne sürmektedir.

Keywords

Demokrasi, Venezüela, Hugo Chavez, Latin Amerika, Popülizm

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