Analysis: Land Reform

The Conflict between State-led Revolution and Popular Militancy in Venezuela

By Zachary Lown – Venezuelanalysis.com, Sep 2nd 2009

In Merida, Venezuela socialist governing officials clashed last June with families that took over unproductive farm land. This clash illustrates an apparent contradiction within the Chavez government's "participatory and protagonistic democracy" which calls on citizens to seize control over their communities and lives yet must also ensure political stability in strategic regions of the country.

Chávez and Morales Take On Sweeping Measures at Land Reform

By Adam Kott and David Rosenblum Felson - COHA, May 6th 2009

Latin America’s battalion of left-leaning leaders has been in full voice as they turn to achieve the land reform goals of the Bolivarian Revolution. The tenets of this revolution are best seen today at work in Venezuela and Bolivia.

Land Reform Conflict in Venezuela’s Strategic Water Source

By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com, Aug 11th 2008

Cooperativist ecological farmers supported by the Venezuelan government’s land reform programs were attacked last Thursday by armed and masked men who, the farmers say, were hired by large estate owners in the area to cut short the changes heralded by the “Bolivarian Revolution” in their rural Andean Mountain valley.

Co-operatives Turn Idle Landed Venezuelan Estates Green

By Humberto Marquez - IPS, Jun 18th 2008

"As far as you can see, there was not one litre of milk produced, not even an ear of corn," says José Tapia Coirán, turning with his arms outstretched, pointing to the horizon of the Venezuelan savannah dotted by trees. "Now we produce 500 litres of milk per day and we harvested one million kilos of maize."

Look out Florida, here they come! Land and food in Venezuela

By Patrick Irelan - CounterPunch, Feb 25th 2008

Last week, the Los Angeles Times gleefully reported that a crowd in Sabaneta, Venezuela, had looted a food warehouse belonging to the state-owned Mercal grocery-store chain.

Venezuelan Government Announces Offensive Against Paramilitaries

By Jim McIlroy & Coral Wynter - Green Left Weekly, Sep 12th 2006

“It is not possible [to accept] the continued massacre of our campesinos ”, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez declared on August 6, “The chiefs of police must respond to these acts... if they feel incapable they must resign.”

Feeding Ourselves: Organic Urban Gardens in Caracas, Venezuela

By April M. Howard - Toward Freedom, Aug 10th 2006

In the middle of the modern, concrete city of Caracas, Venezuela, Noralí Verenzuela is standing in a garden dressed in jeans and work boots. She is the director of the Organopónico Bolivar I, the first urban, organic garden to show its green face in the heart of the city of Caracas, Venezuela.

Venezuela’s Urban Land Committees and Participatory Democracy

By Alex Holland – Venezuelanalysis.com, Feb 11th 2006

Looking-in from the barrios that surround Venezuela’s capital. Credit: Jonah Gindin

The Urban Land Committees represent one of Venezuela’s most interesting and significant developments. The success or failure of these Committees could be one of the most important factors determining how transformative the current process will be for Venezuela.

MST Representative Visits Venezuela, Sees Country in Transformation

By Joao Pedro Stédile - MST, Oct 20th 2005

I am writing to you from the bolivarian planes in the state of Barinas, in the centre of Venezuela. I am here doing a "recorrido" [tour], as they say, to learn about the agrarian reform process in Venezuela. I am impressed. I am very impressed.

Venezuelan Land and Factory Expropriations as seen from the Labor Ministry and the Union Federation

By Federico Fuentes - Green Left Weekly, Oct 13th 2005

Marcela Maspero of the pro-Chavez union federation UNT and José Gregorio Villarroel of the Labor Ministry explain to Green Left Weekly's Frederico Fuentes how they see the recent intensification of expropriations of idle land and businesses.

A Visit to Lord Vestey’s Ranch in Venezuela

By Karen Hill, Oct 3rd 2005

I decided I would go to El Charcote, near San Carlos, as I had heard that there was a land dispute between a wealthy English Company and some campesino families who had occupied the land. I thought that perhaps our solidarity group could do something to support the campesinos in their struggle to stay on the land.

Venezuela’s Quiet Housing Revolution: Urban Land Reform

By Gregory Wilpert – Venezuelanalysis.com, Sep 12th 2005

Urban Land Committee delegates from nearly all Venezuelan states met on August 30th for the first time in Caracas to receive land titles and project funds. Credit: Gregory Wilpert

Flying below the radar of most Venezuela observers, both pro- and anti-Chavez, Venezuela is undergoing a quiet revolution, in which urban land reform promises to dramatically improve the lives of millions of Venezuela’s poor. The urban land reform is functioning as a catalyst for the unprecedented mobilization of Venezuela’s barrios.

Land for People not for Profit in Venezuela

By Gregory Wilpert – Venezuelanalysis.com, Aug 23rd 2005

The Venezuelan government under President Hugo Chavez is the only government in Latin America, and perhaps even in the world, that is currently trying to pursue an ambitious land and agrarian reform program. A review and assessment of the land reform program's strengths and weaknesses.

Venezuela's Peasant Leaders Demand Justice and Protection

By Jonah Gindin – Venezuelanalysis.com, Jul 13th 2005

Since the Venezuelan land reform was passed four years ago an estimated 130 peasant leaders and activists have been assassinated. On Monday, land reform and peasant groups marched on Caracas to demand justice and protection from the Venezuelan government.

Venezuela's Agrarian Land Reform: More like Lincoln than Lenin

By Seth DeLong - COHA, Feb 25th 2005

In the history of land reform, the most accurate analogy to illustrate what is transpiring in Venezuela is not Zimbabwe or Cuba – Chavez officials have repeatedly emphasized that they are not emulating the Cuban model of land reform – but the U.S.’ own Homestead Act.