As Chavez becomes President for life, Pilger discusses his approach to democracy:

Is democracy possible in a one-party state? (presidentD) Is it possible in a society without an educated electorate? (wkrj)

The question above all surely is: what is democracy? What is fascinating about developments in Latin America is that the old preserve of the western liberal elite of the concept of democracy belonging to them, and them only is being challenged. Rousseau wrote about popular sovereignty; these days we call it participation. In western democracies, especially Britain and the US, there is a crisis of participation. Liberal elites have failed in defending the most fundamental civil liberties. Latin America has long been a source of democratic experiment; and what we see happening in Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela and other countries is an epic attempt at participatory democracy. The debate in Venezuela, which is an electoral democracy, is the relationship between the state and communities. In other words, the communities representing grassroots democracy can be the opposition to a state assuming unaccountable powers. As for the question about an educated electorate, in my experience education never guarantees democracy; on the contrary it can allow the “training” of a particular class who are beneficiaries of power.

What a surprise Rousseau pops up. Not for nothing did Isaiah Berlin consider Rousseau one of the enemies of freedom. Bend to the general will of the people, it’s in your own interests. Honest.