Chávez was elected in 1998 after building his movement over the course of the decade. For many, his election signaled a spreading backlash against the failure of the oligarchy system and neoliberalism to deliver development. Chávez called for a peaceful and democratic "Bolivarian Revolution," appealing to Simon Bolívar's vision of continental sovereignty and cooperation. Many barrio residents and campesinos were already busy organizing in their communities, and the revolution quickly began to take shape. Chávez's government collected input from community groups all over the country in order to create a new constitution, which was ratified by a popular vote of around 70% and went into effect in 2000. The new constitution created a Constituent Assembly and land reform and environmental protection measures, gave new political, cultural and economic rights to immigrants, women and indigenous people and more. Chávez easily won re-election under the new constitution, and members of his coalition were elected to local offices nationwide.

 

But the government's progress was slowed by US intervention and the Venezuelan opposition, led by traditional elites now largely shut out of the circles power. The US government has been frustrated by higher oil royalties, Chávez's opposition to US-led trade plans and his public criticism of US foreign policy, and has responded by financing the Venezuelan opposition through the National Endowment for Democracy and related funds. In 2002, the opposition staged a coups, but after the coup plotters took over and dissolved the Assembly and the Supreme Court, thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets of downtown Caracas and swept Chávez back into office within 48 hours.

 

In 2003, in another attempt to oust Chavez from power, the opposition-affiliated executives of the state oil company, PdVSA, locked out employees and sabotaged equipment, temporarily shutting down the industry. The lockout did enormous damage to the economy, but did not succeed in its goal of bringing the government to its knees: within two months, workers successfully took over the factories and resumed production, guarded by teams of local volunteers.

 

Chávez introduced oil company reform, leading to internal restructuring and new budgeting that directed profits into neighborhood social programs called "missions." These include preventive medical and dental care, vision treatment, literacy, multiple levels of education, child care, job training, technical and agricultural assistance, microloans, aid for cooperatives and women's businesses, subsidized food staples, support for indigenous communities and more.

 

In 2004, the US-funded opposition conducted a signature drive in order to hold a referendum on Chávez's presidency under a provision of the new constitution. Chávez submitted to the referendum, which he won with a landslide majority of record turnout and which was certified by many teams of international observers, including the US' own Carter Center.

 

Chávez is making good on his plan to forge multilateral economic relationships and build international solidarity. These relationships include media project TeleSur, energy projects PetroSur and PetroCaribe, and a number of bilateral partnerships for trading goods and services.