Opinion & Analysis

An Oral History of Grassroots Venezuelans in the Midst of the Economic War

By Cory Fischer-Hoffman/ Various, Jan 30th 2015

A woman shows her constitution and support for President Maduro at Plaza Bolivar on January 21. (Cory Fischer-Hoffman)

While the shortages and long-lines are creating serious inconveniences and undeniable burdens on most Venezuelans, beyond the frustration, the voices of grassroots Venezuelans are getting lost beneath negative predictions of macroeconomic collapse. In this oral history collage, members of the Venezuelan grassroots and popular movements speak for themselves about the roots of the economic war, their strategies in the face of it, and the solutions that they propose.

Venezuela's Bolivar Needs Bold Action

By Ryan Mallett-Outtrim, Jan 28th 2015

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that he would not be making significant changes to the Exchange rate system. (PHOT

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made a point of downplaying his foreign exchange reforms last Wednesday, and good thing he did. The reforms are bound to do little to curb Venezuela's economic problems, despite the fact that genuine changes to the exchange system are urgently needed.

Revolution, Counter Revolution, and the Economic War in Venezuela: Part II

By William Camacaro and Frederick B. Mills, Jan 27th 2015

Member of the Venezuelan National Guard stands by a large supply of hoarded cooking oil. (PHOTO:Venezuelasolidarity)

William Camacaro and Frederick B. Mills offer an important overview of the current economic war in Venezula. Part II focuses on the need to change the economic model in Venezuela and explores the balance of political and economic forces in Venezuela today.

Revolution, Counter Revolution, and the Economic War in Venezuela: Part I

By William Camacaro and Frederick B. Mills, Jan 27th 2015

Trade Unionists hold up signs that say "No to the Economic War!" (PHOTO: From Archives)

William Camacaro and Frederick B. Mills offer an important overview of the current economic war in Venezula. In Part I of this two-part series, the authors give an overview of the current political climate in Venezuela and provide historical context for the use of food as a political weapon. By examining the 1973 Coup in Chile and the way that control of food was used during the 2002 coup in Venezuela and the 2003 Oil strike, the authors push for a deeper understanding of the current political climate in Venezuela today. Part II focuses on the need to change the Economic model in Venezuela.

Venezuela: Heinz Dieterich the Prophet of Doom – Or how not to save the Bolivarian Revolution

By Alan Woods - In Defence of Marxism, Jan 26th 2015

Maduro during the April 2013 elections (In Defence of Marxism)

Alan Woods responds to an article published by Heinz Dieterich on the Venezuelan leftwing website Aporrea, in which the German academic claims that 2015 will be the Maduro government´s last year in office.

Who Will Stand With Venezuela?

By W.T. Whitney Jr. - Counterpunch , Jan 19th 2015

(Invent the Future Blog)

Who in the world stands with a country when it is under the looming threat of a major U.S. government intervention? When Guatemala (1954), the Dominican Republic (1965), Chile (1973), and Haiti (2004) were in trouble, there was no one.

Economic Solutions: Two Perspectives from the Bolivarian Left

By Venezuelanalysis.com/ Nicmer Evans and Euda Vera, Jan 14th 2015

Women buy toilet paper in Caracas Supermarket (PHOTO: The Guardian)

In the face of on-going shortages of basic consumer goods, soaring inflation, a multi-pronged and broken currency exchange system and now falling oil prices, Venezuela's economic “crisis” is now being acknowledged at the highest levels of government. As opposed to the simplistic mainstream media coverage that attempts to blame Venezuela's woes on the boogie monster of “socialism,” we present two perspectives from within the Bolivarian Revolution on concrete public policy solutions to Venezuela's economic crisis.

China, the CELAC, and Venezuela

By Luis Britto Garcia- aporrea.org, Jan 12th 2015

(archive)

Venezuelan writer Luis Britto Garcia discusses the massive impact Chinese investment has had on recent Latin American development, while calling for strict outlines to be drawn to protect Venezuelan sovereighnty in the midst of heightened negotiation.

US Slaps New Sanctions Against Venezuela: Why Now?

By Roger D. Harris, Jan 9th 2015

Just as US Relations with Cuba improve, the US approves sanctions against Venezuela. (PHOTO: EFE)

In this article Roger D. Harris, President of the Task Force on the Americas, explains the current political context for the United States´recent sanctions on Venezuela. Harris outlines the substance of sanctions, the response of Venezuela and the international community and how the current correlation of forces in both the US and Venezuela have resulted in increased sanctions against Venezuela that are spearheaded by the Democratic Party in the United States.

Rapprochement Between the United States and Cuba and Sanctions Against Venezuela

By WILLIAM CAMACARO and FREDERICK B. MILLS, Jan 6th 2015

United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C. (archives)

William and Frederick lay out a comprehensive analysis of the "consistent imperial strategy" demonstrated by US president Obama in recent policy shifts toward Cuba and Venezuela.

Bias Creates Investment Opportunities in South American Bonds

By Mark Weisbrot, Jan 5th 2015

Despite continued reporting that Venezuela will default on its debt, Mark Weisbrot, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Po

Despite continued reporting that Venezuela will default on its debt, Mark Weisbrot, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, argues that default is unlikely.

After Chávez: The Maduro Government And The ‘Economic War’ in Venezuela

By Steve Ellner – New Left Project, Dec 30th 2014

A mosaic of Hugo Chavez (left), Nicolas Maduro (centre) and 19th century independence hero Simon Bolivar (right) (ciencia con co

Academic Steve Ellner examines the question: With economic difficulties mounting and dissent in the ranks, is the government of Nicolás Maduro living up to Hugo Chávez’s legacy?

The Worst Venezuela Coverage of 2014

By Joe Emersberger- Telesur English, Dec 23rd 2014

Image from a Reuters article claiming constant homicides are making coffins scarce in Venezuela.

(Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawli

Joe Emersberger lists examples of corporate media's most outrageous claims about Venezuela in 2014, and explains specific political agendas endorsed by those messages.

Against Judicial Attacks, International Support for Venezuela’s Communes

By The Signatories, Dec 22nd 2014

Protestors call for commune activist David Diaz's release in Caracas earlier this month. (Comunidad Socialista Guerrera Ana

VA.com publishes this open letter by a number of scholars and activists who warn about recent judicial attacks on commune activists in Venezuela, and encourage support for the country’s commune movement.

Venezuela in 2014: Maduro Administration Given Reprieve by Divided Opposition

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Dec 19th 2014

From left to right: opposition leaders Leopoldo Lopez, Maria Corina Machado, and Henrique Capriles (AFP)

VA.com’s Ewan Robertson offers an assessment of the relative positions of the Bolivarian government and conservative opposition after a bumpy year for Venezuela’s politics and economy.