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http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/03/201134121327738678.html Chavez gambles on Gaddafi diplomacy Hugo Chavez could yet emerge as a respected peacemaker over Libya, or find himself on "the wrong side of history". Simon Hooper fta: 'Honourable way out' But, Salas warned, the only scenario in which Chavez could emerge in a positive light would be in "facilitating the process in which Gaddafi leaves the country". "If he could provide an honourable way out for Gaddafi, in some ways that would reduce the tensions and provide for some transition. He could actually come out as a well-regarded mediator with international credibility - or he could end up on the wrong side of history." David Lehmann, Director of the Centre of Latin American Studies at Cambridge, also suggested that Chavez could play a useful role between Gaddafi and other Arab states because of their close ties through OPEC, the global oil monopoly. "Gaddafi has been expelled from the Arab League and the Saudis despise him. Most of his friendships are to the south, so you could imagine the Arab League might want somebody to come in and mediate," Lehmann said. Some see a contradiction between Chavez's "21st-century socialism" and Venezuela's partnerships with countries such as Iran [EPA] But Kozloff said Venezuela's relationship with Libya highlighted bigger issues regarding Chavez's foreign policy, which has seen the South American country forge high-profile strategic partnerships with states such as Iran, Russia and Belarus in an effort to build a "multipolar" alternative to Western supremacy. Some see a contradiction between human rights abuses in those regimes and Chavez’s "21st century socialism" ideology. "While it's understandable that you’d want to build this multipolar world against western imperialism, if that multipolarism consists of Russia, China, and a bunch of authoritarian regimes then what use is a multipolar world?" Kozloff said. Chavez also risked finding himself isolated from the revolts sweeping the Arab world, with possible implications for his leftist credentials at home and abroad. "Rather than expressing solidarity with this anachronistic generation, he should be allied with the modern day movement in Egypt and elsewhere," said Kozloff. "If he becomes involved in mediation [on behalf of Gaddafi], then some in South America may not view that as particularly progressive." Gregory Wilpert, co-founder of the Venezuela Analysis website, said there had been a "vigorous debate" within the pro-Chavez camp in Venezuela over the regime's ties to Libya. "One segment is defending Gaddafi as a fellow revolutionary and another camp is condemning him and is urging the government to do so too," said Wilpert. "Opponents of Chavez are of course trying to take maximum advantage of Chavez’s ties to Gaddafi by displaying this as proof that Chavez himself is an autocrat." ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@greenhouse.economics.utah.edu Set your options at: http://greenhouse.economics.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
