Latin Politics

Topic: Examine what effect the major agents of socialization have had on you and your way thinking about politics. What is your earliest memory of thinking about politics? When did you first begin to know something about presidents or political parties? What influence along these lines did your family have on you? Your school (s)? Your neighborhood (or may be your former country)? Your peers, experiences, etc?

When you come from a third world country, politics is different from the one in North America. For example, North America never had a problem with communism; in the other hand almost all third world countries had have a dictatorship or intent of coups, this events mark people that live in those countries. I come from a third world country called Venezuela, witches enjoy thirty four years of uninterrupted civilian rule, Venezuela was considered one of the most stable democracies in South America. However in February 1992, militaries forces try to coup the government. I remember every single detail of that day, I remember my mother and father trying to explain me what was happening. I also remember teachers, neighbors, and friends worry about political stability. Since that moment I became interesting about politics and the way it affect society. When you live a moment like that, you realize the dependence that you have from government in order to be free.

I was just 7 years old, I was sleeping at my bedroom and around 5:30 am a weird sound wake me up, it was a shut. I went to the living room and I saw my mother crying at the window. My father was shock watching the news, the phone didn't work and after two hours the television wasn't working either. I ask my mother what was happening, I was very confused, and she explains me that there was intent of cup in the country, like a war, she said. My father told me that if the good guys lost the battle then we were going to lost everything; he was meaning the businesses. Then I realize that it was something that my parents couldn't control. My mother also explains me at that moment the meaning of president, military forces, democracy and dictatorship. I remember that I was asking so many questions, I couldn't explain myself why I didn't know anything of this before.

That day make history in my country and also in my life. After two weeks of problems and listening the news again and again; I knew almost every single detail of the political issues. The coup was directed against the Carlos AndrÐ"©s PÐ"©rez government and its neoliberal policies.

Venezuela was at that moment passing by a difficult economic situation. Who was poor become everyday poorer, and who was rich became everyday richer. When military officers, including Hugo Chavez, saw the conditions in which Venezuela's poor lived, they became disenchanted with the country's system of government. Corruption was blamed for the problem. This feeling was being felt by the nation's citizens as well. The Coup attempt in 1992 was largely unsuccessful due to a lack of planning by the MBR-200 (Name of the organized group that intent to coup Venezuela). The organizers had been too secretive and failed to gain control of the media. (Guevera 2002. p. 38)

This coup proved to be popular among civilians. I remember that polls taken after the attempt showed that roughly more than half of Venezuelans population approved a military coup in order to enact social change, but not necessarily a military government. However, roughly a large percent still approved of solving the nation's problems through democratic means. Despite its failure, the February coup attempt left a legacy of extended class polarization and controversy that lasts to the present day, and place ChÐ"ÐŽvez to the national spotlight.

I also remember that when Chavez was send to prison, a lot of people were angry about it and organize a manifestation to show their discontent. I was surprise that there were actually people who support Chavez actions, because at that moment I figured Chavez as a really bad person who wanted to make us suffer. Until today I realize that the people who were in favor of Chavez actions were ignorant people, who were really poor and saw in Chavez an opportunity to have a better economical situation. I didn't saw Chavez as an opportunity to have a better economical situation because I always enjoyed a very good economic status.

This intent of coup makes a huge impact on the community. As consequence in November of the same year there was a second intent of coup by another rebellion group; and Hugo Chavez became a recognize political figure, follow by millions of persons and from important figures from the militaries forces.

At the time I came back to school, teachers were only talking about politics. All the homework and projects for school were about the coup and our point of view. My school also sends a Psychologist to each class to talk about the political issue and the images we saw on television and newspapers.

In 1994, only after two years; Chavez was liberated from prison. I remember watching the news and millions of people were supporting Chavez. In the other hand there were manifestation against Chavez and the court decision of liberating him. After that day I don't remember anything else about Chavez or any intent of coup.

In the year 1998, Chavez came back again to the political spotlight as a candidate to Presidency. I was 15 years old and more into politics than in 1992, when I was a little girl. I had politics classes and we used to talk a lot about Chavez profile, actions and the way he makes history in Venezuela and in our life. Chavez won the election; and brought new ideas to govern the country, for example ChÐ"ÐŽvez promised that he would begin his presidency by abolishing Venezuela's old political system, and opening up political power to independent and third parties. Second, ChÐ"ÐŽvez promised to end corruption. Third, ChÐ"ÐŽvez promised to eradicate poverty in Venezuela. (Guevera 2002. p. 16)

Under the presidency of Hugo ChÐ"ÐŽvez, Venezuela has seen sweeping and radical shifts in social policy, moving away from the government officially embracing a free market economy and neoliberal reform principles and towards quasi-socialist income redistribution and social welfare