Such a scene is reminiscent of the early years of revolutionary Cuba. After organizing the overthrow of then-president Fulgencio Batista, Fidel Castro rose to power and transformed the island into the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere. After nearly 50 years as Latin America’s quintessential leftist revolutionary, his transfer of power to brother Raul has left many to wonder who will fill the void left by Castro’s departure from the public arena. All indications suggest that Chavez is next in line to become the standard-bearer of the Latin American communist movement.

Inspired by the anti-capitalist teachings of Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky, and Vladimir Lenin, Chavez has initiated steps to steer Venezuela away from its democratic institutions and into the perilous position of ruling by decree – power the state legislature overwhelmingly supported.

History has shown the problems inherent in conferring authoritarian power to a ruler in the hope that his solitary rule will bring about positive change sans the restrictions of democratic institutions. With no checks or balances, it is impossible to guarantee that the president will not act in such a way that would jeopardize the security of his own state and those nearby. Castro’s relationship with Soviet Prime Minister Khrushchev in the 1960s, for example, led to the installation of nuclear-armed ballistic missiles in Cuba – bringing the world to the brink of full-scale nuclear war.

The lesson learned is clear: the granting of authoritarian power – no matter how well- intentioned the leader seems - can have very serious negative repercussions. By removing the democratic restraints on the executive branch, one is essentially creating a position of power whose only restrictions would be self-imposed.

Chavez has begun using his newfound power in an ambitious effort to transform Venezuela into a command economy by nationalizing private corporations. It is not surprising that a large percentage of Venezuelans support such actions. While the nation is rich in oil, many Venezuelans live in abject poverty. Chavez’s promise of equality by nationalizing private corporations and eliminating capitalism within the state seems to resonate well with the poor majority of citizens.

In a meeting with his new minister of labor, José Ramón Rivero, Chavez said, "I am… a Trotskyist! I follow Trotsky’s line, that of permanent revolution." The Permanent Revolution by Leon Trotsky describes his theory of continual revolution: "The completion of the socialist revolution within national limits is unthinkable…it attains completion only in the final victory of the new society on our entire planet."

Such rhetoric should catch our administration’s attention. Trotsky’s notion of permanent revolution, when in the hands of a leader like Chavez and armed with the support of countries such as Iran, could potentially pose a very real threat to peace in the region.

It is no secret that Chavez loathes President Bush and his administration. In his address before the United Nations, Chavez referred to President Bush as the "devil" and heavily criticized American military actions in Iraq and its support of Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. "We are rising up against American imperialism," Chavez said. "Yes, you can call us extremists…but we are rising up against domination."

Chavez’s anti-American rhetoric is popular these days. With support from Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Ecuador, Chavez is gaining momentum from the radical anti-capitalist left in Latin America. His spreading influence has also garnered the attention of Iran’s president, whom Chavez supports in attaining nuclear weapons.

His firm stance, powerful persona, and vociferous criticism of Bush makes him the prototypical political iconoclast popular with those needing someone to represent their fervent detestation of our president and his policies on an international stage – an underdog to stand up to the bully.

An examination of our country and its policies may reveal why Chavez’s anti-American rhetoric is so popular. For example, while the U.S. lambastes foreign countries for employing weapons that kill indiscriminately, the U.S. refuses to discontinue its use of cluster bombs, even when 98% of those killed using such bombs are civilians.

The poor majority around the world feel dominated by our aggressive solipsistic policies. Many feel our country’s leaders hypocritically speak of liberty, peace, and freedom while pursuing extremely unpopular, ideologically driven agendas with little regard for international law. Leaders like Hugo Chavez suggest that capitalism is to blame for such indiscretions.

This is nothing to take lightly. The history of international relations teaches us that the way to dismantle the hegemon is to form alliances against it. It is the oldest line of thinking in international relations theory: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Certainly, Chavez has no problems finding enemies of the U.S. today. Iran is slowly becoming an ever-increasing threat in the world. Its capacity to challenge U.S. hegemony is increasing rapidly with anti-American revolutionaries such as Chavez – who currently enjoy more latitude because of our current military preoccupations in Iraq and Afghanistan – joining its anti-democratic efforts.

During the Clinton administration, the U.S. did a good job of balancing its dual role in the international arena as both the lone military superpower and a peaceful, diplomatic country. In a sense, the U.S. was seen as the epitome of liberty, democracy, and justice. We no longer enjoy that reputation. The dictator-led proletariat envisioned by the likes of Trotsky, Lenin, and Marx is Hugo Chavez’s blueprint for organizing the large, poor masses of his country in support of his egalitarian policies and against those that support American capitalism.

It is no secret that America’s economic interests are at the top of any American president’s list of priorities. Venezuela’s extremely large oil reserves add another variable for American leaders to take into consideration.

As Chavez transitions Venezuela into a socialist economy, his zealous anti-American rhetoric is becoming increasingly popular with countries that wish to challenge U.S. power. The Venezuela-Iran relationship could pose a threat to U.S. hegemony and stability. This problem is exacerbated by the scarcity of American resources due to the ongoing war in Iraq. With the U.S. presidential election coming up in 2008, it will be interesting to see if the new president can successfully renew international interest in multilateral diplomacy and cooperation. As Castro passes the torch to Chavez, relations between the U.S. and the new leader of the Latin American communist movement will be especially important. ● BC