Resumo

ELLNER, Steve. Tensions Between the Grassroots and the Leadership in the Ranks of Chavism. Revista Venezolana de Economía y Ciencias Sociales [online]. 2008, vol.14, n.1, pp.49-64. ISSN 20030507.

The party leaders who support Hugo Chávez and the independents who belong to the Chavista movement defend two distinct forms of politics. The independents represent a focus “from below” that proposes to maximize the participation of the rank and file and social movements in decision making and criticizes the parties for tolerating corruption and promoting bureaucratic behavior that blocks the revolutionary process. Party leaders favor a “vertical” or statist approach which considers the party as essential for the revolutionary process and insist in the maintenance of unity within the movement at all cost. The conflict between the two currents manifests itself in a diversity of fronts as well as policy debate.

Palavras-chave : Chavism; Different Currents; Disputes; Grassroots; Leadership; Venezuela.