United States and Venezuela: 2001-2008
United States and Venezuela: 2001-2008 Prior to the Cold War, “US policy had aimed at keeping major powers from attaining strategic positions that might threaten US security” (Leogrande, p. 355, 2007). This led to Dollar Diplomacy of President Taft, and the justification of intervention on behalf of the fear of Communism. The end of the Cold War resulted in the United States emerging as the sole power of the world, leaving no other country willing, or able, to contest US influence in Latin America. The focus in the region shifted towards promotion of democracy, as the United States was no longer in fear of security threats (Leogrande, p. 357, 2007). In relation with Venezuela, however, the United States demonstrated a weak democratic ideology, allowing economic ventures to take precedence as Venezuela grew increasingly resistant to US hegemony.
President Bush took office, pledging to prioritize Latin America, declaring, ‘The best foreign policy starts at home … We’ve got to have good relations in the hemisphere,’ promoting a policy of ‘freedom and free markets’ (Leogrande, p. 358, 2007). This pledge lasted less than a year, however, as the attacks on September 11, 2001 took precedence, subsequently leading to the deterioration of relations with Latin America. Bush turned Latin American foreign policy over to the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs, as he and his national security team channeled their attention to the budding War on Terror. The bilateral relations were continually strained, however, US relations with Venezuela were especially tense (“Global”). Socialist Hugo Chávez was elected president of Venezuela in 1998, marking the collapse of the country’s party system. He made it clear that revolutionary changes were in store, and has since been notorious for verbally berating the United States- strongly opposing neoliberalism and globalization, including free trade and capitalism (Farrell, p. 1, 2010). “Chávez was one of the
President Bush took office, pledging to prioritize Latin America, declaring, ‘The best foreign policy starts at home … We’ve got to have good relations in the hemisphere,’ promoting a policy of ‘freedom and free markets’ (Leogrande, p. 358, 2007). This pledge lasted less than a year, however, as the attacks on September 11, 2001 took precedence, subsequently leading to the deterioration of relations with Latin America. Bush turned Latin American foreign policy over to the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs, as he and his national security team channeled their attention to the budding War on Terror. The bilateral relations were continually strained, however, US relations with Venezuela were especially tense (“Global”). Socialist Hugo Chávez was elected president of Venezuela in 1998, marking the collapse of the country’s party system. He made it clear that revolutionary changes were in store, and has since been notorious for verbally berating the United States- strongly opposing neoliberalism and globalization, including free trade and capitalism (Farrell, p. 1, 2010). “Chávez was one of the