Venezuela Beyond Elections – Cracking Authoritarianism Through Human Rights
In this essay in RevDem’s Cross-regional Dialogue section, edited by our Global Forum editors Hager Ali (Africa), Anubha Anushree (Asia) and Gabriel Pereira (South America), Carolina Jimenez Sandoval, President of WOLA analyzes the current political context in Venezuela.
By Carolina Jimenez Sandoval, President of WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America.)
“Democracy is fragile. You have to fight for every law, every safeguard, every institution, every story. You must know how dangerous it is to suffer even the tiniest cut. This is why I say to us all: we must hold the line.”
― Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize winner
“Venezuela is back in the news”—a phrase increasingly heard among journalists, political analysts, policymakers, and others across the globe in recent months. After years of protests, an enduring humanitarian and human rights crisis, and the forced exodus of nearly 25% of its population (7.7 million people, according to the United Nations[i]), Venezuela has also become synonymous with corruption scandals, ongoing investigations in multiple countries, and a relentless political conflict led by an unpopular authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro. Coupled with an economy hampered by various international sanctions, Venezuela, perhaps unsurprisingly, slowly faded into what can be described as “international fatigue.” This so-called fatigue can in part be attributed to the perceived failure of various political strategies to effect change or restore democracy and is compounded by a world preoccupied with multiple crises, where violent armed conflicts have taken center stage.
Yet, despite the international fatigue, Venezuela has returned to the headlines. This resurgence in attention must be understood beyond the immediate trigger: the presidential elections that took place on July 28 despite all odds and without meeting minimum democratic standards. I believe understanding the complexity of the current political context in Venezuela requires the analysis of two perspectives 1. the domestic sphere, including the expressed will of the Venezuelan people; 2. the regained attention of the international community amidst diverging interests.
Read the full article here.
