- Not to be confused with Chauvinism
Chavismo is the left-wing political ideology of former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and his successor, Nicolas Maduro. A form of populism, it combines elements of democratic socialism, socialist patriotism, Bolivarianism, the idea of "permanent revolution" from Trotskyism, and Latin American integration. Policies include nationalization, social welfare, and opposition to imperialism and neoliberalism.
Chavismo is not against private property, but seeks to promote collective ownership. It has been criticized by some socialists, communists and Marxists as a form of state capitalism, owing to the country's large private sector (70% of Venezuela's GDP was created by the private sector, as of 2009). Followers or adherents of Chavismo are known as Chavistas or Chavists.