CONFÉRENCE | PUBLIC LECTURE

The School of Political Studies of the University of Ottawa,

the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Canada, and Territorio Libre

Conference & Discussion

The Legacy of Hugo Chavez

Thursday, May 23, 2013, 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Faculty of Social Sciences Building (FSS), Room 1030
120 University Private, University of Ottawa

Guest speakers:

Michel Chossudovsky, Economist, Professor (Emeritus) at the University of Ottawa;

Arnold August, Montreal-based writer, journalist and lecturer.

Public lecture presented in English. Translation will be available. A short documentary film may be presented to facilitate the discussion.

Following decades of popular discontent, Venezuelans elected Hugo Chavez in 1998. Since 1999 the country experienced a democratic revolutionary process with decisive popular support, which gradually transformed the country’s traditional power structure including the control of the state oil company PDVSA.

The control of PDVSA allowed the implementation of numerous social programs in the country and abroad which have benefited millions and the creation of international initiatives such as ALBA, Telesur and others; yet it also made Venezuela a favorite target of the animosity of powerful transnational and national interests.

What are the main challenges in the post-Chavez era? How could the narrow victory in the recent presidential elections, the first ones without Chavez in 15 years, be interpreted? Is the opposition on its way to retake power and reestablished the old order? Could the ongoing revolutionary process survive without Chavez? What would happen with ALBA and with other regional initiatives? This panel invites you to debate these issues.

This public lecture is free and open to the public. It is not required to register. For further details, please contact [email protected]

Parking is available on campus.