Bolivarian Circles
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The Bolivarian Circles are a 2.3 million member, loosely-knit political and social organization of workers' councils in Venezuela originally begun by President Hugo Chávez. They are named in honor of Simón Bolívar, the leader who transformed most of South America from Spanish colonial outposts to the independent states now in place.
Chávez organized these circles, which he cites as examples of grassroots and participatory democracy. The circles themselves were purportedly decentralized, made autonomous from any central government oversight, and instead organized on the neighborhood and block level. In 2000, however, Chávez authorized then-Vice President Diosdado Cabello to financially support them, which makes Chávez's opponents skeptical of any claims of autonomy.[1] The circles were charged with such tasks as neighborhood beautification, mass mobilization, lending support to small businesses, and providing basic social services.[2]
The circles reached a peak membership of 2.2 million in July 2003 and were said to be instrumental in, among other things, urging voter approval of the 1999 Constitution and foiling the 2002 coup attempt with mass grassroots mobilization for pro-Chávez demonstrations.[1][3] However, their significance to Venezuelan politics has trailed off significantly since 2003, as most circles have effectively disbanded. Pro-Chávez Bolivarian circles are not exclusive to Venezuela—similar circles of supporters remain widespread in, for example, Germany, Austria, and France (where circles exist in Vienna, Tübingen, Bielefeld, and Paris). Circles are also found in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and several other nations.
The circles, according to the Chavez regime, are neighbourhood groups charged with the reorganizing of Venezuelan society from the grassroots, and pushing forward the Venezuelan revolution. These workers' councils began as very dependent on the Chávez government and its bureaucracy--President Chávez originally selected candidates from which the circles were to choose leaders. Critics accuse the circles of furthering violence[1], while Chávez supporters say they are neighborhood associations, promoting and facilitating literacy classes and helping run local health clinics. According to a study by Brigham Young University scholars, the "Bolivarian circles" also help the government identify opponents, who are then denied services.[4]. This was not new. Critics of the Chavez regime have always claimed that the Bolivarian circles were inspired by the Cuban "Committees for the Defense of the Revolution" (CDR).
In 2001, Chávez sworn all official Bolivarian Circles at the first national reunion under the following oath:
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I swear in front of you [Chávez], for the God of my parents; I swear for them. I swear for my honor and for my motherland that I will not rest my arms nor my soul until we have broken, finally, the chains that opress Venezuela as an inheritance of the powerful who destroyed the motherland. I swear that I will completely dedicate my work to the bolivarian ideology, to the popular organization, to popular mobilization, to popular power, to never abandon the struggle; every day and every night that I have left with the bolivarian circles in the bolivarian web, in the bolivarian current, in the bolivarian forces and in the Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement 200 that today is born again after 19 years, by the will of the Venezuelan people. I swear that I wil fight without rest for the defense of the revolution, even if I have to sacrifice my life, for the glory of Venezuela. I swear that we will consolidate forever the bolivarian revolution and the motherland of our children. I swear.[1]
However, spontaneous acts of defiance, such as walking out and electing their own candidates, have gained them an independence that has made them into a powerful social force on par with the soviets (workers councils) in pre-revolutionary Russia.[citation needed] They are generally seen as more radical than the rest of the movement, carrying out factory occupations, taking large estates, and fighting against more reformist branches.[citation needed] As a signal of their real or pretended independence from the Chavez regime, they have coined the slogan "the revolution, with or without Chávez". Indicating that their aspirations for socialism, and in some cases even communism, are not something to be sacrificed for charismatic politicians.[citation needed]
Increasingly however, it seems Chávez is not challenging these positions, but in fact adopting some of the ideas of these councils himself, such as his announcement that socialism is the only way forward, or his nationalization of Venepal.
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[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c Morsbach, Greg. (BBC, 12 Jun 2002). "Chavez accused of fostering militia links". Retrieved 13 Jun 2006.
- ^ Sanchez, Alvaro ("Venezuela Analysis," 30 Sep 2003). "Bolivarian Circles: A Grassroots Movement". Retrieved 14 Nov 2005.
- ^ Burke, Tom and Rodrigo Chaves. (Z Communications, 30 Jul 2003). "The Bolivarian Circles". Retrieved 14 Nov 2005.
- ^ Davis, Bob. "Move Over, Che: Chavez Is New Icon of Radical Chic." Wall Street Journal (Eastern edition). New York, N.Y.: Jun 16, 2006. p. A1.
