21st-Century Socialism
Twenty-first-century socialism is a Latin American current that combines nationalisation, price controls and large social programmes with a strong personal presidency elected and sustained by popular mobilisation. Its governments typically rewrite constitutions and concentrate power in the executive.
- Natural resources and strategic industries should be nationalised and their revenues spent on social programmes.
- Sovereignty must be defended against the United States and international financial institutions.
- Participatory bodies and referendums are favoured over liberal checks and balances.
The phrase was popularised by the sociologist Heinz Dieterich in the 1990s and adopted by Hugo Chávez in Venezuela from 2005. Related "pink tide" governments included Evo Morales in Bolivia and Rafael Correa in Ecuador. In Venezuela the model became increasingly authoritarian under Nicolás Maduro after 2013.
Critics point to hyperinflation, shortages and mass emigration in Venezuela, and to the erosion of courts, press freedom and elections. Supporters argue that early gains in poverty reduction were real and blame sanctions and falling oil prices.
Countries and historical regimes whose 12-axis profile is closer to 21st-Century Socialism than to any other ideology in the test.
Historical regimes
21st-Century Socialism is also the second-closest ideology for: Tang China, Khmer Rouge Cambodia.
Method: each ideology is placed at a typical position on the 12 axes, scored from 0 to 100 toward the first pole. Ranks compare it with the other 45 ideologies; matches are 100 minus the average distance across all axes. The positions are our own calibration, not taken from any third-party source.