Populismo, miedo y otras técnicas de persuasión en el discurso político del presidente Hugo Chávez

Abstract

We analyze here some techniques such as focalization, avoidance, repetition… in several speeches by Hugo Chávez. It is typical in politicians’ discourses to include certain groups in their speeches, considering them as part of the same fight, and resorting to populism. In this sense, the use of structures and metaphors, and the selection of lexicon, among other resources, serve Chávez to compare his cause with the Bolivarian revolution, while he invents his identity and transfers the blame for all evils to previous governments or to the United States. Propaganda techniques are analyzed, among them, bandwagon, testimony, transference, repetition, and the use of emotive words. Some resources such as the inclusion of historical discourses and religious references, and the use of fear and the avoidance of negative issues related to their administration will be discussed.