This article is part of the People’s World 100th Anniversary Series. On April 11, 2002, the capitalist class in Venezuela launched a coup against the democratically-elected President Hugo Chávez.
On August 15, Venezuelans will decide whether to retain or recallPresident Hugo Chávez, who has impoverished his citizens andturned the state oil industry into a political tool. The UnitedStates should support international scrutiny of Venezuela'sreferendum, diversify its sources of petroleum, and engage LatinAmerica to help strengthen allies' nascent democratic institutionsand market economies.