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The Missionary Politics of Hugo Chávez.
- Source :
- Latin American Politics & Society; Spring2008, Vol. 50 Issue 1, p91-121, 31p
- Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Through the application of an analytical model categorized as "missionary," this article examines the cultural and political-religious frames that sustain the leadership of Hugo Chávez. It demonstrates that missionary politics is a forceful presence in today's Venezuela, and should be understood as a form of political religion characterized by a dynamic relationship between a charismatic leader and a moral community that is invested with a mission of salvation against conspiratorial enemies. The leader's verbal and nonverbal discourses play an essential role in the development of such a missionary mode of politics, which seeks to provide the alienated mass of underprivileged citizens with an identity and a sense of active participation in national affairs. This study argues that purely utilitarian and materialistic explanations of Chávez's leadership fail to capture these soteriological dynamics in his movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1531426X
- Volume :
- 50
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Latin American Politics & Society
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 31420907