The hope of the universe: Bolivarianism in the era of Gran Venezuela (1974-1983)

This work reviews Venezuelan Bolivarianism and its relationship with the political discourses and projects during what has been called "Gran Venezuela" (Great Venezuela, 19741983). During this period, Venezuela enjoyed a combination of two decades of democratic stability and high oil prices, becoming an exceptionally prosperous, free and peaceful country in Latin-America. In this context, democratic governments used political Bolivarian historicism in order to legitimize their apparent success as proof that they were complying with the vision set out by Simon Bolivar, traditionally associated with conservative thought and dictatorship. It also used Bolivarianism to project its status as an emerging power in the Third World.