The government of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela claims to be carrying off a Bolivarian revolution, distributing public resources to the poor, empowering popular neighborhoods through educational and other programs, and democratizing an elitist society. The government’s critics claim that it is using social programs to buy political support and to force working-class communities into relations of dependence with the government.

Beyond the polemics, a set of researchers is attempting to dig deeper and explore the political logic behind the Chávez government’s redistributive programs, as well as their economic and political effects. The aim of this conference is to bring these researchers together in an environment conducive to sharing recent and ongoing findings.