Venezuela’s Shift from Chavismo

Note: this episode was originally published in February 2016. Given today’s announcement that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro will not allow the main opposition parties to run in next year’s presidential election, we’ve decided to republish this episode to provide context to Venezuela’s political and economic struggles.

Venezuela recently elected a majority-opposition legislature. Will the new majority bloc, characterized by its opposition to the Venezuelan government’s entrenched chavismo ideology, be able to stand up to current president Nicolás Maduro? What other challenges stand in their way? Join us as we discuss the political and economic causes and possible consequences of what’s afoot in Venezuela.

Check out our sources!

Take a look at some of our favorite articles that we came across while preparing for this episode:

* “In graphics: a political and economic guide to Venezuela,” The Economist.

* Matt O’Brien, “Venezuela is on the brink of a complete economic collapse,” Washington Post.

* Harold Trinkunas, “Three things to know about the Venezuelan election results,” The Brookings Institution.

* Harold Trinkunas, “Venezuelan elections: could Chavismo lose?,” The Brookings Institution.