President Hugo Chavez Embracing Africa and South America (2006)

 

President Hugo Chavez embraced Africa and its link to South America. Venezuela in the late 1990s began to enhance diplomatic relations with African nations. To an extent both Africa and Latin America share a common struggle. European colonization harmed the people of both continents. Spain was the major power that dominated Latin America. The wave of independence in the 1820s was undermined by the United States and the policy of the Monroe Doctrine. During this interview President Hugo Chavez voices his concerns for Mozambique. The scourge of AIDS and poverty in Africa was a concern for the Venezuelan president. Domestically, Hugo Chavez formed food programs to combat hunger in Venezuela. Chavez stated that "racism is characteristic of imperialism." Capitalism also acts as a binding network for these systems of domination. Hugo Chavez was not only calling for a socialist revolution, but a revolution of ethics. The world should not except that children die from lack of healthcare and destitute conditions. This cannot be the task of one leader Chavez expressed. The public must participate in a revolution. The notion of "taking back the flag of socialism" refers to stopping the cooption by social democrats and  political centrist liberals. These two factions are seeking reform, rather than fundamental change. The reason Hugo Chavez was demonized is that he wanted to challenge US domination in South America. The hatred was also from the US, which attempted to depose Hugo Chavez in 2002. Both Africa and South America cane benefit one another.