ABSTRACT
One of the most enigmatic dimensions of Hugo Chávez’s foreign policy is his penchant for establishing warm, cozy, and often extravagant partnerships with well-recognized pariah states outside of Latin America, such as Iraq (under Hussein), Iran, Zimbabwe, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Belarus, and North Korea (see Box 8.1). Except for Iran, these are small and indecently poor nations, governed by regimes that are widely recognized for wrecking national economies and abusing human rights, in some cases, through genocide. Most countries in the world would prefer to keep their distance. Chávez, on the other hand, doesn’t miss a photo opportunity with any one of their leaders. He has actually granted state honors to Gadhafiand Ahmadinejad. Chávez likes to exalt these outcast regimes and brags about his close relationships with each of them (see appendix).
