Socialism in a Rentier State Beyond President Chavez's Electoral Victory 

by James Petras 

The successful re-election of President Chavez by a resounding 10% margin, winning 20 of the 22 states, with a massive 80% turnout provides his government with a clear and decisive mandate to set the political and economic course of the country over the next six years.To understand the opportunities and constraints which the government faces, it is essential to outline not only the positive strengths of the government but the complex and difficult structural features of ‘transiting’ in an essentially ‘rentier economy and society’ based on extractive enclaves, …

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