BRITTANI HAMM | staff writer
WITH AP SOURCES

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened to close private schools that refuse to recognize his socialist government as an authority in Caracas, Venezuela on Sept. 17.

More than 160 Venezuelan universities and colleges, both public and private, must submit to state inspectors enforcing a new educational system. It will be known as the “new Bolivarian education system,” after Simon Bolivar, the South American liberation leader.

However, the tactics Chavez uses to expand and enforce his ideology are typical of those used at the beginning of communist regimes in Russia, China, and Cuba, and are aimed at “imposing a sole, singular vision,” sociologist Antonio Cova said.

“Society cannot allow the private sector to do whatever it wants,” Chavez said.

This year, new curriculum and textbooks are being developed and some critics are concerned that indoctrination will ultimately trickle down into primary and secondary schools. Seven state schools have already adopted leftist ideology as a part of their curriculum.

An excerpt from a college-level syllabus translates: “Topic 7: Democracy in Venezuela and its projection in the rest of the countries of the world. Specific Objective: Appreciating the role of the Bolivarian Revolution led by President Hugo Chavez Frias in the process of revolutionary transformation of Latin America, the Caribbean and the world.”

When accused of imposing a single way of thought, Chavez’s brother, Education Minister Adan Chavez, claims that the aim is actually to develop “critical thinking.”
Chavez also responded to criticism, stating former educational systems taught one sided ideology. Chavez says education based on capitalist ideology has corrupted Venezuelan children’s values.

“We want to create our own ideology collectively—creative, diverse.’’ Chavez said.

Besides, state education regulations are accepted in other countries including the U.S., he said.

Some Venezuelan officials defend the new program claiming that the goal to teach people to be socially minded and help the community.

“If they attack us because we’re indoctrinating, well yes, we’re doing it, because those capitalist ideas that our young people have- and that have done so much damage to our people- must be eliminated,” Campos said.

Despite warnings of anti-American sentiment, an APU mission team traveled to Venezuela and gained a different perspective. One of the team leaders, senior communication studies major Keith Holmes, explained that Chavez writes and delivers his own speeches.

“When [Chavez] said Bush was the white devil, [Venezuelans] thought it was comical.” Holmes said.

The Venezuelans support Chavez because he caters to the majority of the population: the poor.

“If [Chavez] does that, then obviously they are going to have his support, but I don’t think that necessarily makes them hate Americans,” Holmes said.

Many self-described, socialist students deny being told how to think.

“They don’t impose what we have to learn,’’ 30-year-old Brazilian Roberto Leal said. “If we don’t agree with something, we express our opinion.’’

In a state medical school near Caracas, 20 international students expressed their opinions by withdrawing from the university. Colombian student Gabriel Gomez Geurrero dropped out after learning that the syllabus presented Marulanda, the head of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia and a man viewed as the public’s number one enemy, as an “important Latin American thinker.”

“They aren’t going to introduce that man to me as a ‘Latin American thinker,’” Gomez said. “They may brainwash other people, but not me.”

Similarly, Russia is promoting President Vladimir Putin’s anti-western thought in youth with its Pro-Putin summer camp at Lake Seliger, Russia.

On July 18, Nashi, a pro-Kremlin organization loyal to President Putin, summoned ten thousand youth activists to the camp designed to eliminate ideas of political opposition and promote Russia’s desire to rise again to superpower status.

“In 10 years, we will have a huge network of people who share our ideology and who know that is Russia’s proper place in the world,” 36-year-old Nashi group founder, Valisy Yakemenko said.

At the camp, groups of the 15-23 year old Commissars (a label derived from Soviet Era Communist party leaders) ran to classes in red T-shirts and name badges with electronic chips that monitored attendance. The strict program outlined skipping lectures, drinking alcohol, cursing, and unsanctioned fraternization as causes for expulsion.

At the opening ceremony, one teenager was used as an example for the others after being overheard using a curse. Thousands cheered when Yakemenko ridiculed him.

“He wants to be a governor?” Yakemenko said. “He’ll be a bum and die in the gutter!”

In the middle of the camp stood six-foot posters of cartoonized political leaders of opposition movements creating the Red Light District. On one of the posters, “Let there be sovereign democracy,” was written in reference to the Kremlin’s belief that sovereign democracy should be devoid of Western influence.

Nashi members pitched tents and attended lectures on topics such as the dangers of American expansionism and Putin’s theories on political discourse. One young man, Alexei, wishes President Putin could be elected for a third term despite the practice being banned by the Russian constitution.

Nashi was created in 2005. Many believe that Vladislav Surkov, the Kremlin’s Deputy Chief of Staff, is the founder. The anti-fascist movement group gained momentum through huge demonstrations and has now spread into most of Russia.

Nashi members combine patriotism and self-improvement in so far as it may be reminiscent of the Communist youth group, Komsomol.

“There is no alternatives to Nashi,” Venezuelan student from Kursk Artyom Samoilov said. “It is a union of like-minded people.”

The group aims to unite and excite Russian youth in matters of service to the state.

Democracy and human rights issues in Russia are cause for concern, but David J. Kramer, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, is also apprehensive about the rise of anti-Americanism and a general backlash against the West.