Why Ch谩vez-style governance runs against history
The end of Hugo Ch谩vez鈥檚 rule in Venezuela marks an important milestone in history鈥檚 long road toward more democracy. The world now has one less leader who puts personal rule ahead of the rule of law.
Whatever the worth of Mr. Ch谩vez鈥檚 ideas 鈥� uplifting the poor, breaking an entrenched elite 鈥� they were damaged by an authoritarian populism, or a belief that one person can so embody the aspirations of the masses that normal democracy, individual rights, and judicial oversight must bend to his power.
During 14 years in office, Ch谩vez made mistakes similar to those of other self-styled revolutionaries, both on the left and right, such as Argentina鈥檚 Juan Per贸n and Serbia鈥檚 Slobodan Milosevic. He rigged the electoral process and used social divisions as a political tactic. He tapped into resentment of the rich and relied on patronage and subsidies to extend his grip. Like Huey Long, the populist governor of Louisiana in the 1930s, he declared 鈥渆very man a king!鈥� but made sure he alone remained king.
Ch谩vez came to power at the end of a century whose most significant achievement was the spread of democracy and freedom. The second biggest achievement was more social and economic equality. Like many rulers, he rushed for the second goal at the expense of the more-important first.
As a result, Venezuela now has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world. Its oil productivity has dropped. Political divisions and corruption are rampant. A new elite now wields the power. While some social indicators are up, they may not be sustainable without the stability that an open and fair democracy brings.
Besides building up a personality cult around himself, Ch谩vez was able to maintain power for so long by tapping the country鈥檚 vast oil wealth. In almost all oil-rich countries today, democracy has either never taken root (Saudi Arabia) or is in decline (Vladimir Putin鈥檚 Russia). Whenever a government tightly controls a nation鈥檚 natural resources, a ruler is often tempted to use them to stay in power.
Democracy鈥檚 great strength lies in the checks and balances that prevent anyone from claiming that he or she represents 鈥渢he people.鈥� An elected majority is forced to accommodate the minority. Personality is played down for the sake of a contest of ideas through a series of votes or vetoes. The main role of 鈥渢he people鈥� is to be a check on the power of the state.
Venezuelans must now return to a style of governance in which elected leaders do not personalize power or use populist calls for social justice while demonizing 鈥� or jailing 鈥� those who disagree with them.
Ch谩vez the man was quite charming, generous, and truly empathetic toward the disadvantaged. But on balance, most of the actions of Ch谩vez the leader need to be reversed. History was not on his side.
