Venezuelan Bolivarian missions in Colombia: what are the real, underlying reasons for their existence?
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Authors
Biller, Achim M.
Cardenas, Jorge Galindo
Subjects
Venezuela
Hugo Chvez
Colombia
Bolivarian Missions
Social Missions
Cuba
Bolivarianism
Missions Robinson
Milagro
Guacaipuro
Identidad
Socialism of the 21st Century
Socialism
Venezuelan Foreign Policy
Venezuelan-Cuban Relations
Chavismo
Insurgency
FARC
ELN
Political Interference
Ideological Expansion
Foreign Support to Insurgency
Hugo Chvez
Colombia
Bolivarian Missions
Social Missions
Cuba
Bolivarianism
Missions Robinson
Milagro
Guacaipuro
Identidad
Socialism of the 21st Century
Socialism
Venezuelan Foreign Policy
Venezuelan-Cuban Relations
Chavismo
Insurgency
FARC
ELN
Political Interference
Ideological Expansion
Foreign Support to Insurgency
Advisors
Trinkunas, Harold A.
Date of Issue
2013-06
Date
Jun-13
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The Bolivarian government of Venezuela and the government of Cuba use the legitimate status of Bolivarian Missions in Colombia for both legitimate and illegitimate state activities. The overall aim is to undermine the Colombian state and increase the influence of political movements sympathetic to Bolivarianism in Colombian politics with the overall goal of weakening a historical international rival to Venezuela in Latin America. A comparative case study method is applied to four Venezuelan-sponsored Bolivarian missions in Colombia: Robinson, Milagro, Guacaipuro, and Identidad. A review of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chvezs ideology of Bolivarianism is also included. The case study analysis is complemented by fieldwork in Colombia: interviews with many key figures including former insurgents, intelligence officials of both Venezuela and Colombia, as well as politicians and analysts who have direct and indirect knowledge of the missions. This constitutes a unique and up-close perspective on the true nature of Bolivarian missions in Colombia. The Bolivarian government of Venezuela and the government of Cuba consistently seek to expand their anti-U.S. influence throughout Latin America; understanding their ideology and mechanisms for doing so yields important policy implications for the U.S. and Colombian governments, as well as democracy proponents.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Defense Analysis (DA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.