Geographie der Macht. Die Relevanz von Raum-Macht-Fragen im bolivarischen Venezuela

Abstract

Schlagworter: Venezuela, Raum, Territorialisierung, Macht, Demokratie, Estado Comunal ----- The Geography of Power – The Significance (or Relevance?) of Space and Power Relations in „Bolivarian“ Venezuela. Abstract The „production of space“ describes competitive social processes that reflect existing and changing power relations. This paper discusses the spatial differentiation of power and domination in „Bolivarian“ Venezuela; more specifically, it analyzes changing modes of state control over spatial usage and appropriation. These transformations are by no means accidental. Rather, the Venezuelan government considers the re-dimensioning of spatial power relations and the control over strategic resources to be central to political and strategic considerations within the country. Thus, since 2007 Chavez fostered the communalization of the state and a communalism-inspired model of society. Looking at the project of political and social transformation in Venezuela, the article addresses how, by whom, why, and with what effects political-territorial and socio-spatial rescaling and territorialisation processes are initiated and promoted. In so doing, the political importance of spatial dimensions and, thus of democracy and power, are underlined. Keywords: Venezuela, space, territorialisation, power, democracy, Estado Comunal