Information about Hugo Chávez is not hard to find. So, rather than write another exhaustive biography, I decided to offer a condensed biography and overview of Chávez’ life and career.

Name	Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías
Birth	July 28, 1954, Sabaneta, Barinas, Venezuela
Title	President of Venezuela
Assumed Office	February 2/6, 1999(?)
Political Party	Founded MVR (Fifth Republic Movement), now merged with other socialist political parties to form the PSUV
Religion	Roman Catholic
Hero	Simón Bolívar
Supporters	Chavistas
Favorite TV Show	Hosts Aló Presidente
Favorite Sport	Baseball
Family	Twice divorced, with four children

Many people will find this mini-bio more useful and easier to understand than some of the more detailed bios. However, it also features links to resources that offer more information on various topics.

Much of the information on this page is taken from the Wikipedia article Hugo Chávez. Many, but not all, of the links point to Wikipedia pages as well.

Summary

Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (commonly spelled Hugo Chavez in English) is the controversial and inspirational President of Venezuela, probably the world’s most influential socialist, the most outspoken critic of George W. Bush among world leaders and the leading advocate of Latin American unity. As the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, Chávez promotes a political doctrine of democratic socialism (or “21st century socialism”), Latin American integration, and anti-imperialism. He is also a critic of neoliberalism, globalization and United States foreign policy. Boosted by his passion and charisma, Chávez has radically transformed Venezuela’s government and economy and helped unleash a Latin American political revolution, becoming a hero to millions of people around the world in the process.

Landmark Events
Election (56%)	Dec-6-98
Reelection (60%)	July-30-00
Reelection (63%)	Dec-3-06
Recall Vote (59%)	Aug-15-04
Coup Attempt	Feb-4-92	?
Coup (Target)	April-11-02
New Constitution (72%)	Dec-15-99
Constitutional Referendum (49%)	Dec-2-07
New Venezuela Flag	March-12-06
PDVSA Showdown	Dec. 2002
teleSUR	July-24-05
So long, IMF	April-30-07
Bank of the South	Dec-9-07
SATO Suggested	April 2008
Called Bush the Devil at UN	Sept-20-06
Pat Robertson: Assassin	Aug-22-05
Donald Rumsfeld Editorial	Dec-2-07
Exxon Freezes Assets	Feb-7-08
Exxon, Round 2	March-18-08
Colombia-Ecuador Raid	March-1-08
Evo Morales > President of Bolivia	Jan-22-06
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner > President of Argentina	Dec-10-07
Michelle Bachelet > President of Chile	March-11-06
Álvaro Uribe > President of Colombia	Aug-7-02
Rafael Correa > President of Ecuador	Jan-15-07
Daniel Ortega > President of Nicaragua	Jan-10-07
Fernando Lugo > President of Paraguay	Aug-15-08

Early Life

Hugo Chávez was born in a mud hut in the town of Sabaneta, Barinas, Venezuela on July 28, 1954. The second son of two schoolteachers, Hugo de los Reyes Chávez and Elena Frías de Chávez, he is of mixed Amerindian, Afro-Venezuelan, and Spanish descent.

At an early age, he was sent to live with his paternal grandmother, Rosa Inés Chávez, in Sabaneta. There, he pursued hobbies such as painting, singing, and baseball while attending elementary school at the Julián Pino School. He was later forced to relocate to the town of Barinas to attend high school at the Daniel Florencio O’Leary School.

Education, the military and politics would all be powerful influences on Chávez.

Education & Beliefs

Education has played a prominent role in Chávez’ life, and it has largely been a family affair. Both his parents were schoolteachers, and President Chávez later appointed his elder brother Adan education minister. Another brother, Narciso, is an English teacher who lived in Ohio for several years.

Political science has long dominated Chávez’ academic interests. At age seventeen, he enrolled at the Venezuelan Academy of Military Sciences. He graduated in 1975 as a sub-lieutenant with a degree in Military Arts and Science. Chávez was then allowed to pursue graduate studies in political science at Caracas’ Simón Bolívar University, though he left without a degree.

Over the course of his college years, Chávez and fellow students developed a left-nationalist doctrine that they termed “Bolivarianism,” inspired by the Pan-American philosophy of 19th century Venezuelan revolutionary Simón Bolívar, the influence of former Peruvian President Juan Velasco and the thought of various socialist and communist leaders including Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky.

Chávez balanced his love of baseball with writing numerous poems, stories and theatrical pieces.

Upon completing his studies, Chávez initially entered active-duty military service. During his 17-year military career, Chávez held a series of teaching and staffing positions at the Military Academy of Venezuela, where he was first acknowledged by his peers for his fiery lecturing style and radical critique of Venezuelan government and society.

 

Chávez’ version of Bolivarianism, although drawing heavily from Simón Bolívar’s ideals, was also influenced by the writings of Marxist historian Federico Brito Figueroa. Chávez was well acquainted with the various traditions of Latin American socialism espoused by Jorge Eliécer Gaitán and Salvador Allende and from a young age by the Cuban revolutionary doctrine of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. Other key influences on Chávez’ political philosophy include Ezequiel Zamora and Simón Rodríguez. Other indirect influences on Chávez’ political philosophy are the writings of Noam Chomsky and the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Bible (Chávez describes Jesus as the world’s first socialist.) Although Chávez himself refers to his ideology as Bolivarianismo (“Bolivarianism”), Chávez’ supporters and opponents in Venezuela refer to themselves as being either for or against “chavismo.” Thus, Chávez supporters refer to themselves not as “Bolivarians” or “Bolivarianists,” but rather as “chavistas.”

Later in his life, Chávez would acknowledge the role that democratic socialism (a form of socialism that emphasizes grassroots democratic participation) plays in Bolivarianism. Because his Bolivarianism relies on popular support, Chávez has organized the “Bolivarian Circles,” which he cites as examples of grassroots and participatory democracy. The circles are forums for a few hundred local residents who decide how to spend the government allowance for social development. They usually decide for neighborhood beautification, mass mobilization, lending support to small businesses, and providing basic social services.

Military Career

At age seventeen, Chávez enrolled at the Venezuelan Academy of Military Sciences. After graduating in 1975 as a sub-lieutenant with a degree in Military Arts and Science, Chávez entered military service for several months until he was allowed to pursue graduate studies in political science at Caracas’ Simón Bolívar University.

Upon completing his studies, Chávez initially entered active-duty military service as a member of a counter insurgency battalion stationed in Barinas. Chávez’ military career lasted 17 years, during which time he held a variety of posts including command and staff positions, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Chávez also held a series of teaching and staffing positions at the Military Academy of Venezuela, where he was first acknowledged by his peers for his fiery lecturing style and radical critique of Venezuelan government and society.In 1983, Chávez established the Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200 (MBR-200). Afterwards, he rose to a number of high-level positions in Caracas and was decorated several times.

1992 Coup

Chávez’ most spectacular military feat was an attempted coup against an unpopular president, Carlos Andrés Pérez, in 1992. Chávez made extensive preparations for the military coup d’étatafter an extended period of popular dissatisfaction and economic decline under Pérez and the violent repression known as El Caracazo.

Initially planned for December, Chávez delayed the MBR-200 coup until the early twilight hours of February 4, 1992. On that date, five army units under Chávez’ command barreled into urban Caracas with the mission of overwhelming key military and communications installations throughout the city. Chávez’ ultimate goal was to intercept and take custody of Pérez, who was returning to Miraflores from an overseas trip.

The mission ended in failure, and Chávez was sent to Yare prison. Pérez was impeached a year later.

Turning Defeat Into Victory

His military background later helped Chávez in his political career. Many Venezuelans see in Chávez, who commony dresses in military attire, a strong leader. In addition, his rapport with military personnel helped rally them to his side when Chávez was taken prisoner during an attempted coup in 2002.

Over the course of 2004 and 2005, the Venezuelan military under Chávez began in earnest to reduce weaponry sourcing and military ties with the United States. Friction over arms purchases from Brazil, Spain, Russia and China led Chávez to end cooperation between the militaries of the two countries. He also asked all active-duty U.S. soldiers to leave Venezuela.

In 2005 Chávez announced the creation of a large “military reserve”—the Mission Miranda program, which encompasses a militia of 2 million citizens—as a defensive measure against foreign intervention or outright invasion.

Chávez rushed tanks to the border of Colombia after that nation launched an illegal military assault in neighboring Ecuador on March 1, 2008. He later accused Colombian President Álvaro Uribe of trying to incite a war with Venezuela.

Chávez continues top assionately puruse a policy of militarization, purchasing thousands of assault rifles (along with a factory to manufacture more), fighter jets, helicopters and several diesel submarines. In April 2008, Chávez announced a plan to create a Latin American military alliance similar to NATO.

Critics claim Chávez may arm insusrgents and/or destabilize the region. Supporters counter that Venezuela needs weapons to protect it from the U.S., which has heaviy armed neighboring Colombia. They could also point to a very suspicious U.S. military presence in Paraguay, though that problem could be rectified by recently elected President Fernando Lugo.

Their point gained still more credence when the U.S. allegedly aided Colombia in an illegal cross-border raid in Ecuador, soon followed by an accouncement that the U.S. was reactivating the Fourth Fleet, partly as an effort to “police Latin America.”

Political Career

One often hears about politicians who don’t walk the talk. Chávez offers an abundance of both. Ironically, most Venezuelans were’t really aware of his mouth until after they’d seen him in action.

Hugo Chávez pursued graduate studies in political science in his youth. More than an armchair political philosopher, he established the Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200 (MBR-200) in 1983, then orchestrated a 1992 coup d’état against former President Carlos Andrés Pérez. Though the coup failed, it transformed Chávez into a folk hero.

After a two-year imprisonment, Chávez was pardoned by President Rafael Caldera in 1994. Chávez was then elected President of Venezuela on December 6, 1998 with 56% of the votes.

Chávez was reelected on July 30, 2000 with 60% of the votes, while his coalition garnered two-thirds of seats in the National Assembly. He was only strengthened by a 2002 coup and a 2004 recall vote (he received 59% of the votes on August 15) and was reelected again on December 3, 2006, with 63% of the vote.

Chávez’ style can be compared to George W. Bush’s style in many ways. Like Bush, he steps out boldly, brushing aside established institutions and policies like so many insects.

The difference between the two men lies in focus. While Bush serves the rich, Chávez—who, unlike Bush, was born into poverty—serves the poor. A corporate whore, Bush favors privatization, Chávez nationalization. While Bush slashes social programs, Chávez beefs them up.

After being sworn in as President in 1999, Chávez’ first acts included the launching of Plan Bolivar 2000, which included road building, housing construction, and mass vaccination. Chávez also halted planned privatizations of, among others, the national social security system, aluminum industry holdings, and the oil sector. Chávez also overhauled the formerly lax tax collection and auditing system—especially regarding major corporations and landholders.

The Constitutional Assembly drafted the 1999 Venezuelan Constitution, which included an increase in the presidential term from five to six years, a new presidential two-term limit, a new provision for presidential recall elections, renaming of the country to República Bolivariana de Venezuela, expanded presidential powers, conversion of the bicameral National Assembly into a unicameral legislature, merit-based appointments of judges, and creation of the Public Defender, an office authorized to regulate the activities of the presidency and the National Assembly.

Social Programs

X

Privatization

In 2007, Chávez nationalized Venezuela’s electricity, telecommunications, natural gas and oil industries. To help tackle a domestic housing shortage, he later nationalized cement companies, including Mexico’s Cemex SAB, France’s Lafarge SA and Switzerland’s Holcim Ltd. On May 12, 2008, Chávez nationalized Venezuela’s biggest steelmaker, Ternium-Sidor, which is majority owned by Argentina’s Techint.

 

 

 

 

Bolivarian missions...

Chávez was reelected in 2000 and 2006, surviving an attempted coup in 2002 and a recall vote in 2004. He has also had to battle the corporate media—both Venezuelan and U.S.—and a variety of intrigue, much of it manufactured in the U.S.

Chávez has demonstrated strong survival skills, continuously reminding the public of the threat posed by the U.S. and forging links with other nations, from Latin American neighbors to Iran and China. At the same time, he has earned friends far and wide with his largesse, which includes offering free medical care to residents of other nations to selling discounted heating oil to U.S. citizens through CITGO.

President George W. Bush turned down offers of aid from both Venezuela and Cuba in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Friends & Enemies

Hugo Chávez is hardly a neutral figure. On the contrary, he is passionate about both his friendships and feuds. Some of his friends and allies are kindred spirits, while other affiliations appear to be marriages of political convenience (or necessity).

Friends and Allies

Fidel Castro is perhaps Chávez’ greatest living hero. The U.S. government is especially critical of Chávez’ friendship with Castro and Iranian President Ahmadinejad.

Chávez is also closely allied with various Latin American leaders who can be considered at least moderately leftist. Two of his staunchest allies are Bolivian President Evo Morales and Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador. Correa appears to share Chávez’ wit, bravado and sharp tongue. Morales is more soft spoken, but he has followed Chávez’ lead in criticizing the U.S.

One of Chávez’ northernmost allies is Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.

Celebrities who have publicly embraced Hugo Chávez include actors Sean Penn and Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte, Naomi Campbell and anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan. In fact, Chávez’ visible Hollywood fan club seems remarkably small.

Enemies

Political comedian Jon Stewart (Daily Show) showed his true colors by insulting Chávez after he called George W. Bush the devil during a speech at the UN.

Chávez appears to boast even fewer friends among the Democrats. Nancy Pelosi and Charlie Rangel have virtually boasted of their hatred for Chávez. It seems unlikely that Chávez would desire the friendship of someone as disgusting as Hillary Clinton, but even Obama has been surprisingly aloof.

Chávez is perhaps best known for his venomous feud with George W. Bush. Naturally, just about any member or supporter of the Bush administration can be considered an enemy of Chávez, from Colombian President Álvaro Uribe to corporate comedian Jon Stewart. Former Secretary of Defense and war criminal Donald Rumsfeld wrote an editorial titled The Smart Way to Beat Tyrants Like Chávez, which was printed in the Washington Post. Right-wing religious kook Pat Robertson suggested that Chávez should be assassinated.

Chávez has joined many U.S. liberals in hurling insults at one of the United States’ most justly maligned whores, Condoleeza Rice. He has also heaped verbal abuse on Iraqi officials.

During one of his most famous spats, the king of Spain (Juan Carlos) told Chávez to “shut up” after Chávez repeatedly referred to former Spanish Prime Minster Jose Maria Aznar (a Bush ally) as a “fascist” during a heated exchange at a summit of leaders from Latin America, Spain and Portugal in November 2007 (Spanish King Tells Chavez to “Shut Up”). On May 11, 2008, Chávez compared German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Adolph Hitler after she criticized his policies (Hugo Chavez ties Merkel to Hitler ahead of EU-Latin America Summit).

Accomplishments

Hugo Chávez’ accomplishments are astounding. They can perhaps best be put in perspective by comparing them with George W. Bush’s accomplishments.

With far more money and power than Chávez has at his disposal, Bush has excelled primarily at destroying things. He has invaded and ruined Iraq and Afghanistan, has helped exacerbate global problems (including igniting a new global arms race) and has helped downgrade the U.S. into a burgeoning second-rate power. Bush left the barn doors open for the terrorists who struck on September 11, then ferociously exploited the attacks for personal and political gain, launching his own attacks on the Constitution and civil liberties. He fiddled while New Orleans withered under Hurricane Katrina.

Chávez hasn’t invaded, let alone destroyed, any other nation. On the contrary, he has helped strengthen not only Venezuela but other Latin American nations.

It’s difficult assessing Chávez’ true and lasting impact on Venezuela’s political structure and economy. But Chávez has undeniably cast off the yolk of “Yankee imperialism,” forcing foreign corporations to pay a fair share for the natural resources they extract.

Chávez has pumped a lot of money into various social programs. Again, both their short- and long-term success is disupted, with media whores and U.S. government propagandists greatly confusing the issue. But it’s hard to imagine that Chávez’ great efforst have yielded no benefits at all. On top of any practical benefits, Venezuela’s poor have something that eluded them for generations—hope.

In addition, Chávez’ efforts have been magnified as they are emulated by other nations. Indeed, Chávez is the most prominent player in a leftist Latin American tsunami that sometimes seems unstoppable.

Like a magician, Chávez has frustrated U.S. efforts to resume screwing Latin America on several fronts. He has educated people around the world, constantly publicizing the dangers posed by George W. Bush, the CIA and other U.S. institutions. He has succeeded in uniting Latin Amerian nations against the U.S. And he has launched what may be the greatest militarization binge in Latin America’s history.

Last but not least, Chávez has set an example for all the cowardly world leaders who appease George W. Bush, as well as all those pussy liberals who seem to think name calling is the greatest crime a person can commit. In a world full of cowards, Hugo Chávez looms like a global hero. He walks the talk, and, as we all know, no one has a bigger mouth than Hugo Chávez.

Major Setbacks

Major setbacks to Chávez’ Bolivarian Revolution seem amazingly few, largely because Chávez has an amazing ability to turn apparent defeat into victory. Though his 1992 coup failed, it publicized and popularized him, helping him get elected later. A coup that briefly toppled him in 2002 only strengthed him and his followers, leaving the U.S. with egg on its face.

His greatest electoral loss was probably the 2007 Consitutional Referendum, which lost by a narrow margin, with 49% of the votes supporting Chávez’ vision. Moreover, Chávez handled the loss with grace and dignity, almost making it look like a victory.

When Exxon got a court order freezing some $12 billion of the state oil company’s (PDVSA) assets, Chávez counterattacked, putting Exxon on the defensive.

When Colombia launched an illegal raid in neighboring Ecuador, the biggest winner was arguably Hugo Chávez, who was treated to an inspirational display of Latin American unity and condemnation for Colombia.

There has been much criticism of Chávez’ management of PDVSA, particularly a mass firing of employees that has reportedly impacted oil production. But what else could he have done in that particular situation?

To date, Chávez’ greatest setbacks may simply be some of his socio-political reforms. Which isn’t to say they aren’t working. Rather, they sometimes seem to be working too slowly, or it’s difficult to see the fruits of Chávez’ labors through a tangle of statistics and propaganda.

How much has Venezuela’s economy really improved? Can the inflation that’s currently eating up the news be seen as nothing more than growing pains? Will Chávez be able to continue his health and education initiatives?

My hunch is that Venezuela will get it together, barring outside interference. Yet, given Chávez’ magic touch, even an invasion by Colombian or U.S. troops would likely be transformed into yet another leap forward for what has become one of the most world’s most resilient countries.

Impact

Only time can reveal the lasting impact of Hugo Chávez’ Bolivarian Revolution. However, it is probably no exaggeration to say that he has had a greater impact on Latin America than any individual since Simón Bolívar.

Only with great difficulty could the U.S. put the cork back in the bottle, replacing one leftist leader after another with a right-wing puppet in the tradition of Uribe or Pinochet. As global population continues to increase and natural resources decrease, nations around the world are going to emulate Venezuela in demanding that corporations play by the rules.

Latin America’s military might may seem pathetic compared to the U.S. juggernaut, but nations around the world are beefing up their defenses against Team Exxon—and the rules of engagement are all over the map.

If he rode off into retirement today, Chávez could claim victory. But it’s a safe bet that Chávez will continue fighting against overwhelming odds until he dies. For above all else, Chávez is a fighter.

Get involved! You can join the team by simply visiting Urban Dictionary > Hugo Chavez and clicking the yellow thumbs up icon , indicating you agree with my definition of Hugo Chavez (the first one listed). It may seem trivial, but it’s quick, easy and free, and words and ideas do matter. (On May 13, 2008, the score was 1-3.)