The unqualified success that Hugo Chavez has had at picking apart Venezuela’s democracy, buying political support with oil, getting his men into office in other countries, supporting terrorist groups, and pressuring political opponents has led many to think that a tidal wave of totalitarian leftism is sweeping the southern continent — and that it’s unstoppable. Until now he has been. The Bolivarian Revolution has marched on and on without impediment. It’s quickening pace has led people to believe in his self-fulfilling prophecy.

What is never taken into account is that his actions must inevitably provoke a reaction. The same has happened to every other major trend in history. Democratic revolutions in the once Soviet space eventually triggered crackdowns in many countries, for example. Consider this the opposite. Chavez’s desire to dominate Latin America is now facing resistance; not by the “imperialist” United States, but by other regional countries.

Call it the Bolivarian Backlash. Alan Garcia’s election in Peru is the first such event to take place. The impending election of Calderon in Mexico could be the next. Chile and Colombia went into place earlier as well. After years of imperialism by the United States, South Americans recognize and hate the meaning of the word. But they are not delusional. The imperialism this time is coming from Venezuela and the people are reacting accordingly. There should actually be nothing surprising about this.

This is coming down to a battle of wills between the democratic left and the authoritarian left, with the former being allied with the democratic right. It is something that Latin Americans will have to face and solve on their own, as U.S. antagonism only makes things worse. If they can reject the likes of Chavez on their own, and reach for the Bachelets and Garcias on their own, a democratic political culture is more likely to solidify.

Chavez does not have to be the ruler of Latin America. He doesn’t have to be the ruler of Venezuela either, for that matter.