Diplomatic Dialogue between Bolivarian Policy and Monroe Doctrine: Interview with Carlos Ron (First Part)
The United States of America vs. Venezuela: Clashing Visions in the Americas
The continents of North and South America have been at the center of a centuries-long struggle for dominance, with two significant ideologies shaping the political landscape: the Monroe Doctrine and Bolivarianism.
Historically, the USA has stated its self-appointed right to dominate the American continent, a belief that can be traced back to the 19th century and the Monroe Doctrine. The primary aim was to prevent European powers from intervening in the region. Over time, this doctrine has been used to justify various interventions, from supporting Panama's separation from Colombia in 1903 to backing regime changes during the Cold War, such as the removal of Chile's Allende. More recently, modern interpretations of the Monroe Doctrine have been employed through sanctions and maximum pressure campaigns against Venezuela.
Conversely, the Bolivarian vision, named after the South American revolutionary leader, Simón Bolívar, emphasizes the striving for anti-imperialist Latin American unity. This idea found practical application in Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution (1998–present), which materialized through regional alliances such as CELAC, directly countering U.S. hegemony. Modern Bolivarianism denounces neoliberal economics, advocating resource nationalism and social welfare programs, policies that have provoked U.S. hostility since Hugo Chávez's rise.
Bolivarianism vs. Monroism: The Battle for Venezuela
The tension between these two ideologies has intensified in the Venezuelan context, with the Bolivarian Revolution clashing with traditional U.S. policies. The Trump administration escalated unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) against Venezuela from 2017, intentionally collapsing the economy through sanctions and financial blockades. Furthermore, Venezuela's leadership in leftist alliances, such as ALBA, challenges the U.S.-dominated political landscape, a situation that some recent Cuban rhetoric identifies as necessitating a "strong CELAC" response.
The ideological struggle also played out on a more subtle level, with U.S. actors like Mauricio Claver-Carone openly aiming to overthrow Bolivarian governance, echoing Cold War tactics used against Chile's Allende and Cuba's revolution.
This contest of visions persists, with Venezuela's socialist projects facing U.S. strategies combining financial warfare with support for opposition factions, while regional bodies deliberate collective responses to the potential revivalism of the Monroe Doctrine.
A Century-Long Struggle for Supremacy
Tracing the roots of this ideological conflict reveals a longstanding battle for supremacy in the Americas. The early United States, born out of thirteen independent colonies, envisioned itself as destined to control North and South America. This vision, grounded in republican ideals, sought to expand its system and saw the south of the continent as its home turf.
In stark contrast, Bolivarian ideology was focused on liberating South America from colonialist oppression and achieving radical social transformation - not just changing rulers but the entire society, including land reform, the abolition of slavery, and universal education. The Bolivarian project emphasized unity among South American countries but with a focus on respecting the interests of each formerly colonized country.
The Monroe Doctrine and Bolivarianism represent fundamentally opposing geopolitical frameworks, shaping U.S.-Venezuela relations through competing visions of sovereignty and regional integration. The struggle continues to this day, as Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution demonstrates another path towards cooperation, solidarity, and complementarity, while the United States adheres to its traditional stance of dominance.
- The Trump administration's use of unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) against Venezuela, with the intention of destabilizing the Bolivarian government, can be seen as a contemporary example of the Monroe Doctrine's application.
- Bolivarianism, in advocating for regional alliances and policies that address inequalities, such as resource nationalism and social welfare programs, directly challenges the neoliberal economic policies exported by the United States.
- The Monroe Doctrine, historically justifying interventions in the American continent, and Bolivarianism, emphasizing anti-imperialist unity, have brought about a war-and-conflicts-esque scenario in the politics of Venezuela due to their clashing visions.
- The ideological struggle between the Monroe Doctrine and Bolivarianism, as demonstrated in the Venezuelan context, has implications beyond general news, influencing policy-and-legislation and shaping the broader landscape of Latin American politics.
