- Main causes of caudillismo in Venezuela
- 1- Political crisis
- 2- Power voids
- 3- Personal and commercial interests
- 4- Deformation of federalism and centralism
- 5- Lack of knowledge of a legitimate government
- References
The causes of caudillismo in Venezuela are diverse, highlighting political crises, power gaps, personal and commercial interests, the deformation of federalism and centralism and ignorance of a legitimate government.
Caudillismo is the government methodology of charismatic political leaders, usually armed, who act in a dictatorial manner. This phenomenon has occurred in Venezuela and in several countries of Latin America during several episodes in its history.
Although there have been many efforts to consolidate a national state in Venezuela, caudillismo has been a prevailing regime in the politics of this country, especially throughout the nineteenth century.
There are several causes that can promote the phenomenon of caudillismo. However, in Venezuela there have been particular situations that have made caudillismo a recurring phenomenon.
Among these situations prevail phenomena of institutional weakness, fragmentation of power and personalism as a way of governing.
You may be interested 5 Consequences of Caudillismo In Venezuela.
Main causes of caudillismo in Venezuela
1- Political crisis
The limited capacity of governments to maintain a stable and centralized policy has been an incentive for the caudillos who through armed movements sought to gain power.
An example of these crises was the political crisis of the Venezuelan state in 1899, which deepened the institutional and economic problems of the country.
In this way, the central power was dismantled and regional caudillismo was encouraged, until the triumph of the restorative liberal revolution of Cipriano Castro, which broke the caudillista movements.
2- Power voids
The withdrawal from politics of great historical leaders of Venezuela, such as the military leader Guzman Blanco in 1877, has also motivated caudillista movements in that country.
By presenting these power vacuums, the caudillista phenomena have come to lead the debate and the political struggle.
3- Personal and commercial interests
Some armed movements of the Venezuelan caudillos have combined the interests of the caudillos with those of some current leaders and the interests of some foreign capital companies.
In this context, the caudillista movements emerged in the liberating revolution that took place between 1901 and 1903.
These alliances promoted local rebel uprisings and at the same time participated in national uprisings.
This was the case of the caudillo Nicolás Rolando, who between 1899 and 1903 was the great representative of the regional caudillismo that defended the federal autonomies.
4- Deformation of federalism and centralism
The lack of solid political doctrines of some historical leaders in Venezuela has led to the distortion of the federalist concepts that they themselves defended in their caudillista struggles.
These characters, although they expressed having an action that was determined by a political project, behaved in a personalistic way.
This act did not allow the cohesion of the different regional caudillos and prevented a centralization of power, perpetuating the phenomenon of caudillismo.
5- Lack of knowledge of a legitimate government
Many authors agree that caudillismo and regional armed movements have remained the only option against governments considered illegitimate.
The caudillos carried out their uprisings as a revolutionary process that sought to replace the head of state to get rid of bad governments and avoid prolonged tyrannies.
References
- Cardoza E. Caudillismo and militarism in Venezuela. Origins, conceptualization and consequences. Historical Processes, Journal of History and Social Sciences. 2015; 28: 143-153
- Manwaring M. (2005) Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, Bolivarian Socialism, and Asymmetric Warfare. Defense technical information center.
- Varnagy D. KOENEKE H. The role of political parties in Venezuela's political culture. Political system and challenges, Politeja 2013; 24: 81-104.
- Chirinos J. Two thousand always: Venezuela and the eternal caudillismo. Western Magazine. 2013; 388: 65-79.
- Mendoza A. Recurrence of the caudillista system in the republican history of Venezuela. A positivist approach to the phenomenon. Time and space. 2014; 32 (61): 267-287.