HUGO CHÁVEZ

Nikolas Kozloff

Audacious, provocative, and bombastic, few world politicians are as colorful as Hugo Chávez, now making international news for his plans to nationalize U.S. owned businesses and his bold opposition to Washington's economic and trade policies. As Venezuela gains importance as the fifth largest oil exporter in the world, this firebrand leader is quickly moving to the public spotlight by uniting much of South America against the Bush administration and wielding oil as a "geopolitical weapon." To create this rich and objective portrait, Nikolas Kozloff--one of the few American journalists who has spent years in the Andean region--has profiled Chávez's top advisors, leaders of his movement, and other key figures in both Venezuela and the U.S. The result is a timely, exhaustive analysis of Chávez as a political leader, and a nuanced examination of the president moving to the center of the global stage. Includes a new afterword by the author, with insights into Chávez's reelection in relation to wider hemispheric politics.

This is the riveting and frightening story of ambitious, tempestuous Hugo Chávez, who is making waves through South America and being widely compared to Castro. Kozloff's access to top advisors, opposition, and leaders of Chávez's own political movement allow him to present a comprehensive portrait of Chávez as he moves into the global spotlight.

1 Chavez in the news - there has been a LOT of attention paid to Chavez in the US and Europe; the press is now calling him the new Fidel Castro. The book comes after the election in Venezuela2 Kozloff is a historian by training, but a journalist by trade, and has been interviewed by NPR, Fox, and the BBC 3 Oil is increasingly a hot topic, and Venezuela is the 5th largest oil exporter4 Kozloff's time in the country allowed him to interview many key players, including Chavez, his top advisors, key members of the opposition, and the leaders of his movement

From the contents:
- Introduction
- "Oil is Geopolitical Weapon"
- TINA - There is No Alternative
- Chavez's Civil-Military Alliance
- Chavez's South American Oil Diplomacy
- In The Andes, Turning the Tide Against The U.S.
- Epilogue: Extending Oil Diplomacy To The United States