Venezuela is creating a Chavez cult: Here's why it might backfire

Hugo Chavez will be under glass like a butterfly or a cockroach (depending on your perspective), pinned to a cardboard label in a museum case. But it’ll perhaps be the most visited case in South America perhaps.

Even if the late president of Venezuela was buried in a normal grave instead of being preserved under glass, the masses would still attend the site in dutiful worship. He managed to inspire that level of devotion. With his death, there are no new acts, no new speeches, no photo-ops -only the memory of what he did before. And that’s perfect breeding ground for a cult.

It’s not a religion, though current acting president and likely winner of the new election within 30 days, Nicolas Maduro, certainly would like to be chosen as the next pope of this faith. This is more of a blind adherence to Chavez, without being able to specify much beyond, “he looked out for the poor”.

I’m not on the ground so I can’t say how well he actually improved the lot of the less fortunate. But he spoke out for them and claimed all his actions were in their name. That’s more than many leaders in some ways, and with the state of poverty in Venezuela, I’ve no doubt Chavez’s attentions were welcome.

Capitalism, socialism - all the isms really - are dependent on the devotion of its followers. Those who question an ism are not welcome, and are even punished in some cases.

Chavezism - if you want to call it that - had its devotees and its detractors, and always will. The question is whether that sets the country up for ongoing and intractable division. Will harmony only be possible when the masses forget the pros and cons of a past leader?

There are those leaders who are more universal in their appeal, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela being good examples. They  lead almost without leading, but by being wise.

Chavez chose to defend and better the poor of his nation, but the way he did it obviously created enemies. And then he became paranoid about the US. Now, we’re all paranoid about the US sometimes - it’s a fun pastime. But it’s also a really useful distraction. British politicians, President Obama, France’s President Hollande - are all blaming the rich for the ills of society, as a distraction to the poor and middle classes. Chavez did the same thing, by blaming capitalism and foreign powers.

Are the poor more susceptible to politically inspired cults? There is an implication that they are somehow less intelligent, or less capable of forming critical thoughts than the more educated. If only some of the well educated showed some of the wisdom of the poor occasionally.

If the poor of Venezuela see no improvement in their lives, they will continue to pine for the guy who they think cared. And they can go pray to him in his glass tomb.

But even Maduro as the chosen successor can’t hope to possibly meet the expectations of a cult fascination with a body under glass. Who can live up to such an ideal? The opposition in Venezuela will never match the expectations of those who believe Chavez was a hero. And every successor claiming inspiration from Chavez will merely look like they’re abusing a hero for their own selfish political ends. You’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.

Political leaders or anyone inspirational can and should be remembered. But glorify them too much, and you create a memory that is inescapable, a cult with its own figurehead and followers. Chavez should be buried with respect, as any person should be. Put him under glass and inevitably it will get broken someday, and that might take Venezuela down with it.