Poll: Venezuelans Prefer Socialism to Capitalism

A newly released Gallup Poll indicates that Venezuelans prefer socialism to capitalism when it comes to affecting their everyday activities, and the country's government and economy. Just this week, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced that imported luxury goods will be limited as a means of promoting what he calls "21st-century socialism", and to avoid governing based on capitalist principles. Chavez cites Venezuelans average consumption of whiskey (four bottles per person, per year) as particularly embarrassing. The Gallup Poll about socialism and capitalism was conducted during the time Chavez was re-elected, and since that time he has been nationalizing industries, starting worker-led business firms, has made changes to the education system, and has even changed the constitution.

Venezuelans are almost twice as likely to positively associate socialism than they are capitalism. 43 percent of survey respondents believe "more freedom to think the way one wants" best describes socialism, while only 26 percent say that statement best describes capitalism. Venezuelans also think there is more peace under a socialist system than a capitalist one (44 percent to 23 percent), and that there is less crime under a socialist system than a capitalist one (42 percent to 22 percent).

The trend towards socialism continues on the matter of education. Education opportunities for all are afforded best under a socialist regime, say 49 percent of Venezuelans, while only 21 percent say this in regards to capitalism. Survey respondents also think the quality of education is higher with socialism than capitalism (45 percent to 25 percent). However, when Chavez first spoke about reforming education, thousands of parents and teachers demonstrated against a decree that would make it legal to fire any teachers and administrators who don't agree with the changes to the system.

Economic issues present a more mixed view on the socialism/capitalism debate. While 48 percent of Venezuelan say more wealth is produced under socialism, and only 28 percent say the same about capitalism, survey respondents are split 35 percent to 34 percent on whether socialism or capitalism affords more people with opportunities to make money. Also, 41 percent of Venezuelans say there is more inflation and a higher cost of living under a capitalist system, and only 27 percent say this in regards to a socialist system.

For this survey between 17 percent and 21 percent of participants responded that they "don't know" about a certain issue and another 5 percent wouldn't respond the question at all. The terms socialism and capitalism were not defined for the participants, which may be why they responded this way. However, part of the reason could also be a lack of discussion in Venezuela about these issues, combined with Chavez's leadership stronghold.

This survey was conducted in December of 2006, and the results are based on 1,000 in-person interviews with Venezuelans, ages 15 and up. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.

Source: "Venezuelans Tend to View Socialism More Positively Than Capitalism", The Gallup Poll