The Bolivarian Circles are a 2.3 million member, loosely-knit political and social organization of workers' councils in Venezuela originally begun by President Hugo Chávez. They are named after Simón Bolívar, the leader who transformed most of South America from Spanish colonial outposts to the independent states now in place. A workers council is a council, or deliberative body, composed of working class or proletarian members. ... Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (born July 28, 1954) is the 53rd and current President of Venezuela. ... Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (July 24, 1783 – December 17, 1830) was a South American revolutionary leader. ... In general, the word colonial means of or relating to a colony. In United States history, the term Colonial is used to refer to the period before US independence. ...

The circles are neighbourhood groups charged with the reorganizing of Venezuelan society from the grassroots, and pushing forward the Venezuelan revolution. These workers' councils began as very dependent on the Chávez government and its bureaucracy, who originally selected candidates for the circles to choose from. Spontaneous acts of defiance, such as walking out and electing their own candidates, have gained them an independence that has made them into a powerful social force on par with the soviet workers' councils in pre-revolutionary russia. They are generally seen as the most revolutionary wing of Venezuelan society, carrying out factory occupations and taking large estates, and fighting against bureaucrats who are on the more reformist wing of society. As a signal of that role perhaps, one of the slogans that have come out of these councils has been "the revolution, with or without Chávez". Indicating that their aspirations for socialism, and in some cases even communism, are not something to be sacrificed for charismatic politicians. A soviet (Russian: сове́т) originally was a workers local council in late Imperial Russia. ... The color red and particularly the red flag are traditional symbols of Socialism. ... Communism refers to a theoretical system of social organization and a political movement based on common ownership of the means of production. ...

Increasingly however, it seems Chávez is not challenging these positions that were further to the left than his, but in fact adopting some of the ideas of these councils himself, such as his announcement that socialism is the only way forward, or his nationalization of Venepal.

Venezeleans who oppose Chávez allege that the circles are dangerous organizations who could potentially carry out terrorist acts.

See also

• Revolución Bolivariana

The Bolivarian Revolution is the social and political movement founded by Hugo Chávez that is based on an interpretation of the ideals of Simón Bolívar, an early 19th century Latin American Independence hero who liberated most of northern South America from Spanish rule. ...

External link

• http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org/
• http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=45&ItemID=3971