Skip to content

Venezuela and the seven Pandora's Boxes of the South American right

Are the policies of right-wing governments in Latin America towards Venezuela a sign of things to come? Español

Venezuela and the seven Pandora's Boxes of the South American right
Supporters of Venezuelan President Maduro are holding a doll of the late Hugo Chavez in their hands at a rally marking the anniversary of Maduro's re-election. Caracas, Venezuela, May 2019. PA Images/Pedro Mattey. All rights reserved
Published:

The crisis in Venezuela is monumental. The disastrous situation is the product of dynamics, domestic and international actors, although without a doubt the role of the United States contributed to worsen what has been going on for years in the country.

In this way, the case of Venezuela has ceased being local, regional or continental, and has turned into a global problem.

What does it mean that the crisis has become a global matter? Several issues: a) Direct or indirect incidence of multiple state actors (executive and legislative) and non-governmental (political parties, NGO´s, think tanks); b) The impact of the bureaucratic differences and struggles within different administrations; c) Participation of players (governments, corporations, the media) with a global reach and specific goals; d) presence of agents (formal or illegal) unarmed and armed; e) involvement of international institutions (for example the UN) and regional (such as the OAS); f) the scope of coalitions and alliances between domestic and foreign actors; g) increasing pressure on domestic participants and the obstacles in finding solutions.