Review by Choice Review
Mallen and García-Guadilla (Univ. Simón Bolívar, Venezuela) examine the polarization of Venezuelan politics under Hugo Chávez in the context of Venezuela's transformation from a representative democracy to what was called a participatory-protagonist one. Attitudes toward Chávez quickly became the dominant political division in Venezuela. Polarization is assessed in terms of the broader public sphere; the media, which was a particular concern for the regime; and student movements. The authors hope other scholars can draw from Venezuela's experience of polarization into two antagonistic groups, and this analysis has utility from the perspective of the US today and as a general work of political sociology. However, the book is focused mostly on Chávez's early years, especially the unsuccessful attempt to overthrow him in 2002 and the fallout after that. There is a postscript on Venezuela after Chávez's death and the presidency of Nicolás Maduro. The book thus underplays how Chávez, in the views of most scholars, turned Venezuela into an autocracy under his broad control. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students through faculty. --Alan Siaroff, The University of Lethbridge
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
