Exploring Hugo Chávez’s use of mimetisation to build a populist hegemony in Venezuela Elena Block Rincones MSc, BA A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2013 School of Journalism and Communication Abstract “You too are Chávez”… (Hugo Chávez, 2012i) This thesis examines the political communication style developed by Hugo Chávez in his hegemonic construction of power and collective identity during the 14 years he governed Venezuela. This thesis is located in the field of political communication. A culturalist approach is used for the case, which prioritises issues of culture and power and acknowledges the role of human agency. Thus, it specifically focuses on the way the late President appears to have incrementally built an emotional, mimetic bond with his publics in a process that culminated in the mimetisation of the leader and his followers in a new collective, but top-down, identity called Chávez. This process expresses a hegemonic dynamic that involved the displacement of former dominant groups and rearrangement of power relations in Venezuela. The logic of mimetisation proposes an incremental logic of articulation whereby I tried to make sense of Chávez’s political communication style and success. It involves the study of the thread that joined together key elements in Chávez’s political communication style: hegemony and identity construction, political culture, populism, mediatisation, and communicational government. It is a style that appears to have exceeded classic populist forms of communication based on exerting an appeal to the people, towards more inclusive, participatory, symbolic-pragmatic forms of practising political communication that may have constituted the key to Chávez’s political success for 14 years. Whether and how step-by-step the logic of mimetisation was articulated and eventually became a full-bodied reality is what I attempt to demonstrate throughout this thesis. I have visualised this thesis first as philosophical inquiry into the issue; but I also have applied a mixed qualitative method to collect and analyse some relevant data and texts from the empirical reality to complement, test, and support the theoretical inquiry. I also employed the responses obtained from 27 in-depth elite interviews I undertook in Venezuela with politicians, journalists, media owners, academics, pollsters and community leaders. This thesis seeks to theorise Chávez’s unique style of political communication in connection with his populist ideologies and practices. According to my investigation, President Hugo Chávez not only governed the people from a pedestal or position of elite superiority, he became the people and the people became him by mimetising in a collective. Chávez’s last electoral slogan “I am no longer Chávez! Chávez is the people! You too are Chávez!” (2012i) marked the final amalgamation of feelings, demands, language and identity of Chávez and his followers—the ultimate stage of his hegemony. ii Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the General Award Rules of The University of Queensland, immediately made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis. iii Publications during candidature Peer-reviewed papers Block, E. (2010). Populismo, libertad de expresión y ciudadanía. Comunicación, 35(149), 64-72. Retrieved from http://gumilla.org/biblioteca/bases/biblo/texto/COM2010149.pdf Block, E. (2013). A Culturalist Approach to the Concept of the Mediatization of Politics. Communication Theory, 23, 259-278. doi: 10.1111/comt.12016 Conference abstracts. 1. ECREA — Communication and Democracy Conference, Munich (Germany), 11-12 October 2013. (Mis)understanding political participation 2. ECREA —Political Communication Conference : New Trends in Political Communication - Evidence, theories, implications, opportunities, 19-20 September, Milano, Italy. Mimetisation as a political communication practice: The key to Chávez’s hegemony? 3. The Centre for Communication & Social Change: Boutique Conference: Beyond the Impasse - Exploring New Thinking in Communication & Social Change. January 29- February 3, 2013. Brisbane. The University of Queensland. Rethinking populism, mediatization and empowerment in Chávez’s Venezuela: politics of “voice” or the rule of symbolic compensation? 4. ECREA - Communication and Democracy Conference: “The Mediation of Scandal and Moral Outrage” hosted by ECREA at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). 16-17 December 2011. Populism, anti-politics, cultural resentment and mediatization: polarization and social outrage in contemporary Venezuela iv Publications included in this thesis No publications included. Contributions by others to the thesis No contributions by others. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree None. v Acknowledgements I am deeply grateful to many people who gave me their support, time, and inspiration for the realisation of this thesis. First, to my husband, John Fraser, for his invaluable support, patience, and love. And to my daughter, Elena Escalante-Block, for caring so much, for her assistance in stressful times, and for her beautiful smile. I hugely appreciate the sacrifices they made on my behalf. To my advisory team, Associate Professor Dr. Eric Louw and Dr. Kitty Van Vuuren, for their wise guidance, infinite patience, and, more importantly, for believing in this project. To Dr. Nicholas Carah for his efficiency and timely advise. To the School of Journalism and Communication and the Centre for Communication and Social Change of The University of Queensland. To my colleagues in the RHD rooms, for our good conversations and encouragement. In Venezuela, to my 27 interviewees, for their participation in this project, and for giving me their trust and time. And specially, to Mrs. Mercedes Rizo not only for her transcripts but also for her ongoing support. To Dr. Natallie Collie, Mrs. Vivienne Chávez and Ms. Melissa Giles, who during these years have assisted me in the intricate task of proofreading, editing and helping give coherence to this study. Specially Viv Chavez for continuous patience and technical support. vi Keywords hegemony, identity politics, mimetisation, culturalism, political culture, populism, mediatisation, communicational government. Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) ANZSRC code 200199, Communication and Media Studies not elsewhere classified, 60% ANZSRC code: 200204 Cultural Theory, 20% ANZSRC code: 160699 Political Science not elsewhere classified, 20% Fields of Research (FoR) Classification FoR code: 2001 Communication and Media Studies, 60% FoR code: 2002 Cultural Studies, 20% FoR code: 1606 Political Science, 20% vii Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................ii Declaration by author ......................................................................................................................... iii Publications during candidature .......................................................................................................... iv Publications included in this thesis ...................................................................................................... v Contributions by others to the thesis .................................................................................................... v Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree ........................ v Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................. vi Keywords ...........................................................................................................................................vii Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) ...................................vii Fields of Research (FoR) Classification ............................................................................................vii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................