chavismo

political system and ideology

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

Chavismo is a political program and ideology named after its founder, Hugo Chávez, who served as president of Venezuela from 1999 to 2013. This socialist program, also known as the Bolivarian Revolution, is characterized by nationalism, a centralized economy, and an active military involved in public projects.12

Chávez's political philosophy was influenced by figures like Simón Bolívar and Karl Marx. He rose to power through a military coup attempt in 1992, which, despite its failure, brought him national recognition. He founded the Movement of the Fifth Republic party and was elected president in 1998, advocating for an end to corruption and increased social spending.2

Under Chávez, Venezuela saw significant political shifts, including the drafting of a new constitution that expanded presidential powers. His presidency was marked by both strong support and significant opposition, leading to political polarization within the country. After Chávez's death in 2013, Nicolás Maduro succeeded him, continuing many of Chávez's policies amidst economic challenges.23

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Venezuela
The presidency of Nicolás Maduro
…outcome as a victory for chavismo, and the Maduro-friendly election commission pronounced the elections clear. In refuting the results, the opposition alleged that there had been widespread ballot manipulation and pointed to the last-minute relocation of hundreds of polling places without public notice (often away from opposition strongholds) and the…
Read More
…outcome as a victory for chavismo, and the Maduro-friendly election commission pronounced the elections clear. In refuting the results, the opposition alleged that there had been widespread ballot manipulation and pointed to the last-minute relocation of hundreds of polling places without public notice (often away from opposition strongholds) and the…
Read More

Nicolás Maduro
A zealous proponent of chavismo (the political system and ideology established by Chávez), Maduro was the successful candidate of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela; PSUV) in the special election to replace Chávez, and he was reelected in 2018. His rule after 2018 was…
Read More
A zealous proponent of chavismo (the political system and ideology established by Chávez), Maduro was the successful candidate of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela; PSUV) in the special election to replace Chávez, and he was reelected in 2018. His rule after 2018 was…
Read More

Who Is Delcy Rodríguez, the Acting President of Venezuela?
…and a committed adherent of chavismo, a populist movement created by Hugo Chávez.
Read More
…and a committed adherent of chavismo, a populist movement created by Hugo Chávez.
Read More