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Published byDayna Jefferson Modified over 9 years ago
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VENEZUELAN COMMUNAL COUNCILS
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Presentation Outline ●History ●Structure ●Funding ●Influence ●Criticism ●Questions
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What is a Comuna? ●A system in which a country or city is separated into districts ●Can create decentralization ●Often associated with Socialism ●Also known as “Communes”
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Countries That Have Implemented Comunas ●Cuba ●France ●Argentina ●The Soviet Union ●Venezuela
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History of Communal Councils in Venezuela ●Process to decentralize some governmental powers in 1980s ○ local governments gained more power ○ Chavez elected president in 1998 and continued decentralization ■ proposed concept of transferring power to popular movements rather than local government
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History Continued ●Bolivarian Circles formed ○ closely linked the government ○ Circles were succeeded by Electoral Battle Units (UBEs), which mobilized the pro- Chavez vote for elections ■ done at Chavez’s behest
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History Continued ●Article 182 of the Constitution established the Law of Local Public Planification Councils (CLPP’s) ○ gave people the ability to collaborate at the city level to address local problems ● 2005: most of the CLPP’s had become stifled by bureaucracy and dominated by politicians
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History Continued ●Venezuelan government passed the Law on Communal Councils in April 2006 ●Called for the councils to decide their own geographic limits, but also follow a strict set of guidelines ●Goal was to expand political participation
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Structure Group of elected people from a self- defined residential neighborhood Principal decision making body: Citizens’ assembly
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5 unites: Citizens’ Assembly Executive Body Financial Management Unit of Social Oversight (Anti-corruption) Community Coordination Collective All council members are elected by the citizens’ assembly for a period of 2 years Structure
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Citizens’ Assembly + 15 Power to elect and revoke community spokespeople to the communal council Assembly elections are done directly (i.e. proxy votes are not accepted) and in secret Other decisions: majority of raised hands Meetings: 2-6 hour public events often held outdoors in the streets Attendance from the community Frequency of assemblies also vary from weekly to once a month
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Executive Body Consists of spokesperson from; o each work committee or community organization o each of any defined micro-neighborhoods o any formed commissions Work committees and community organizations that may be represented o Land committees – Health committees – Cultural groups – Sports clubs –Water boards – Energy boards –Transportation organizations – Environmental groups
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Financial Management Unit 5 community members Responsible for administrating financial and non-financial resource generated, allocated, or awarded to the council Promotes the creation of cooperatives for local development projects Supports local economies, micro-financing, and provides social assistance
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Unit of Social Oversight (Anti Corruption) 5 community members Monitors and reports on the application of council resources and activities towards the community development plan
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Community Coordination Collective Made up of the community organization Informs and trains community members Coordinates with the local community-based “militia,” or army reserves
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Funding Councils apply separately for funds Funding: - National, state, or city governments - Also own funds and donations
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Management of Funds Financial Management Unit - Five leaders; Elected by citizens assembly Unit of Social Oversight - Five leaders; Elected by citizens assembly Increases in funding Communal banks
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Comparisons Tribal or community meeting Town meeting attributes Blend of different ideologies
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Current Situation Formation of new councils 19,500 Councils (March 2007) Majority of groups establishing legitimacy
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Future and Criticism Chavez’s political control - Advantage gained - Opposition to Political identity
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Questions Are Venezuelan Communal Councils an extention of central power or an explosion of popular power? Do you think there is a better system to use in Venezuela other than communal councils? Will communal councils be as important in the future as they are now?
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