The issue of the hybrid regime genesis in Venezuela (1999–2013)

The article gives the author’s interpretation of the genesis of Venezuela political system during the presidency of Hugo Chavez (1999–2013). In the article, when considering the hybrid regime proposed by Guillermo O’Donnell, an attempt was made to analyze the transformation of the political system with the advent of democracy in Venezuela, in which the author highlights the features and democratic or authoritarian aspects inherent in the government from democracy in Venezuela in 1958. The constitutional orders of 1961 and the new Constitution of 1999 constitute the fundamental legal foundations of the entire democratic process that has existed from 1958 to the present, which, obviously, in a historical perspective, points to the trinity of law, power and force, manifested in such historical moments, like overthrowing Perez Jimenez. On the basis of the conducted historical and documentary research, the author of the article concludes that the hybrid regime established by H. Chavez in the first five years of his reign became more and more authoritarian over time. According to the author of the article, the peculiarity of the Chavez administration is that not only legal, regulatory and informal instruments aimed at restricting freedom of expression and assembly, hindering the emergence of democratic pluralism, but also repressive measures. 

1. Alvarez A. (2007), “Venezuela 2007: the engines of socialism are fueled by oil” [Venezuela 2007: los motores del socialismo se alimentan con petróleo], Journal of Political Science [Revista de Ciencia Política], vol. 27, pp. 265–289 (in Spanish), http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-090X2007000100016

2. Corrales J., Penfold M. (2007), “Venezuela: Crowding Out the Opposition”, Journal of Democracy, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 99–113.

3. Corrales J., Penfold M. (2011). Dragon in the Tropics: Hugo Chávez and the Political Economy of Revolution in Venezuela, Brookings Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA.

4. Fernandez M. Morales J. (2003), “Venezuelan Foreign Policy From 1959 to 1974 and its Influence on the Consolidation of Venezuelan Democracy: A Historical Reference” [La Política Exterior Venezolana Desde 1959 Hasta 1974 y su Influencia en la Consolidación en la Democracia Venezolana: Una Referencia Histórica], Journal of Legal and Documentary Studies collection [Acervo Revista de Estudios Jurídicos y Documentales], vol. II, no. 2, p. 113 (in Spanish).

5. Hidalgo M. (2009a). “Hugo Chávez’s ‘Petro-Socialism’”, Journal of Democracy, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 78–92, https://doi. org/10.1353/jod.0.0073

6. Hidalgo M. (2009b), Realities and illusions of “21st century socialism” in Venezuela [Realidades y espejismos del “socialismo del siglo XXI” en Venezuela], Observatorio de Política Exterior Española, Fundación Alternativas, Madrid, Spain (in Spanish).

7. Hidalgo M. (2010), “Middle class and socio-political conflicts in Venezuela (1998–2009): a study” [Clase media y conflictos sociopolíticos en Venezuela (1998–2009): una exploración], In.: Paramio L. (ed.) Middle classes and governance in Latin America [Clases medias y gobernabilidad en América Latina], Pablo Iglesias. Madrid, Spain (in Spanish).

8. Hidalgo M. (2013), “The 2010 parliamentary elections in Venezuela: the return of the opposition and the retreat of Chavismo” [Las elecciones parlamentarias de 2010 en Venezuela: regreso de la oposición y retroceso del chavismo], In: Alcántara Sáez M. & Tagina M.L. (ed.) Elections and Politics in Latin America 2009–2011 [Elecciones y política en América Latina], Instituto Federal Electoral, México, Mexico (in Spanish).

9. Machilanda J.(1988), Political Power and Military Power in Venezuela 1958–1986[Poder Político y Poder Militar en Venezuela 1958–1986], Ediciones Centauro, Caracas, Venezuela (in Spanish).

10. O’Donnell G. (1986), Transitions from authoritarian rule: tentative conclusions about uncertain democracies, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, US.

11. Podlesnyi D.V. (2016), Political science: textbook, People’s Ukrainian Academy Publ. house, Kharkiv, Ukraine (in Russian).

12. Rodríguez J.N. (2000), “Civilians and Military: A Dilemma for Power in Latin America The Chavez Phenomenon in Venezuela” [Civiles y Militares: Una Disyuntiva por el Poder en Latinoamérica El Fenómeno Chávez en Venezuela], Aldea Mundo, vol. 4, no. 8, pp. 27–33 (in Spanish).

13. Tanaka M.(2006), The Situation of Democracy in Colombia, Peru and Venezuela at the Beginning of the Century [La Situación de la Democracia enColombia, Perú y Venezuela a Inicios de Siglo], Comisión Andina de Juristas, Lima, Peru (in Spanish).

14. Toro Hardy A. (1991), The Curse of Sisyphus. Fifteen Years of Venezuelan Foreign Policy.[La Maldición de Sísifo. Quince Años de Política Externa Venezolana], Editorial Panapo, Caracas, Venezuela (in Spanish).

15. Zuloaga N. (2001), Politics in the Past. 40 Years of Ideological Opposition [Política en Pretérito. 40 Años de Oposición Ideológica], Editorial Panapo, Caracas, Venezuela (in Spanish)