Pulitzer Center
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez: Despot, or Democrat? - by photographer Andrew Cutraro and reporter Guy Taylor
A revolution challenging the underpinnings of American economic and political hegemony has emerged in Latin America. At its center sits the Bolivarian movement of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez.
Women faint when they meet Chavez. Men create stampedes to keep up with his caravans through impoverished cities. His fans are wowed by what they call a rare, God-given charisma and genuine commitment to channeling Venezuela’s vast oil revenues toward the poor. But his critics say he’s a global-media-savvy psychological warrior and rising socialist dictator.
Taylor and Cutraro examined structural changes to government being pushed by Chavez, including the recent formation of thousands of community councils. His backers say they put power at the grass-roots level and represent the revolution’s future. Critics say the councils are bent on replacing capitalism and the existing municipal government with a counterproductive, chaotic system of cooperatives.
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