Analysis: All

Explaining Chavista Successes as well as the Danger Spots in Post-Chávez Venezuela

chris — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:17:34 +0000

Steve Ellner - Nacla

Personality considerations cannot explain 14 years of one political triumph after another. The real reasons for Chávez’s success went much deeper than such factors as charisma and clientelism.

International Crisis Group Against Venezuela

tamara — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:38:28 +0000

Mark Weisbrot

The International Crisis Group (ICG) sells itself as “working to prevent conflict worldwide” but there is one country where their mission looks more like promoting rather than preventing conflict. Exhibit A is their report on Venezuela, released recently.

Henrique Capriles: The Prefabricated Leader

ewan — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:05:19 +0000

Ronald Muñoz – Ciudad CCS

This recent opinion article in Venezuelan daily Ciudad CCS examines the private media’s treatment of opposition leader Henrique Capriles, which the author says is “unprecedented in the history of our country”.

One Month since 14 April, Nicolas has Advanced

ewan — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:05:11 +0000

Nicmer Evans - Rebelión

Venezuelan political commentator Nicmer Evans analyses the first month of Nicolas Maduro’s presidency, arguing that despite the opposition challenge to his legitimacy Maduro is setting the country’s political agenda.

The Creators and the Creation: Review of “We Created Chávez: A People's History of the Venezuelan Revolution”

ewan — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:19:40 +0000

Todd Chretien – Socialist Worker.org

Todd Chretien examines a new book's insights into the Venezuelan revolutionary process.

We’ve Definitely Arrived at the Inevitable

chris — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:14:00 +0000

Roland Denis - Aporrea

One prominent Venezuelan intellectual and activist’s perspective on the current political situation and tasks ahead, Denis argues that there is a larger opening now for the opposition to take power, and that the grassroots are talking of regrouping, and are at a “critical crossroads”.

Venezuela's Election System Holds Up As A Model For The World

tamara — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:47:19 +0000

Eugenio Martinez - Forbes

A surprising article in Forbes magazine recognises, and praises Venezuela's electoral system.

The “Loss” of Globovision Might not Herald the Apocalypse

tamara — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:04:19 +0000

Ryan Mallett-Outtrim - Venezuelanalysis.com

The day after the sale of Globovision was confirmed, Venezuelans awoke to new world devoid of any brave voices to question their Orwellian regime.

Urge NYT Public Editor to Investigate Biased Reporting on Venezuela & Honduras

tamara — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:59:42 +0000

Various, NYT Examiner

The following petition, signed by over a dozen experts on Latin America and media including Noam Chomsky and Greg Grandin, was sent today to Margaret Sullivan, Public Editor for The New York Times.

Latin America’s Radical Left in Power: Complexities and Challenges in the Twenty-First Century

tamara — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:41:51 +0000

Steve Ellner - Latin American Perspectives

The democratic, peaceful road to socialism, which has been pursued by the governments of Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador and serves as an inspiration for much of the Latin American left, hardly represents a new approach.

Babette's Feast With the Refugees at PDVSA: The Real Importance of Maduro's Victory in Venezuela

tamara — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:31:45 +0000

Asa Cusack - Huffington Post

Following last month's elections, the legacy of Hugo Chávez was raked over the coals one last time, but the same old stats on poverty, inflation, and crime miss the real story.

The New York Times on Venezuela and Honduras: A Case of Journalistic Misconduct

ryan — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:10:37 +0000

Keane Bhatt- NACLA

As a careful examination of the language and coverage of nearly four years of New York Times articles reveals, concern for freedom and democracy in Latin America has not been an honest concern for the liberal media institution.

Binary Visions of a Complex Leader or: What I Learned from Hugo Chavez

tamara — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:21:02 +0000

Barry Cannon - Open Democracy

Cannon writes, "All commentators with whom I had the pleasure to spar - I in the red corner, they in the blue - had three essential messages to transmit: beginning with the statement that Hugo Chávez was a tyrant - albeit - and said without the slightest irony - an elected one".

Rightwing Covering up Coup Plan with So-Called Electoral Struggle, Argues Opposition Defector

tamara — Tue, 07 May 2013 23:37:51 +0000

AVN

Speaking moments before last Tuesday’s brawl in Venezuela’s National Assembly, opposition legislator Maria Corina Machados’s own deputy representative, Ricardo Sánchez, warned of the right-wing’s ‘hidden agenda’.

Social and Political Diversity and the Democratic Road to Change in Venezuela

ryan — Tue, 07 May 2013 01:27:42 +0000

Steve Ellner- Latin American Perspectives

The rapid unfolding of change and radicalization, which have characterized the presidency of Hugo Chávez since its beginning in 1999, have impacted non-elite social groups in different ways, sometimes favoring one at the expense of another.

Does Capriles Have a Plausible Claim, or Is He “Venezuela’s Sore Loser”?

ryan — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:59:01 +0000

Dan Beeton- CEPR

Despite the lack of evidence of fraud, or any plausible explanation for how the election could have been stolen in spite of the integrity of the Venezuelan electoral system, press reports and commentary continue to treat Capriles’ claims seriously.

In Revolution, the Disabled Have a Voice

tamara — Sun, 05 May 2013 15:01:36 +0000

Jody McIntyre - CdOI

The corridors are always packed in the Metropolitan Council of Popular Power for People with Disabilities, situated in a building just down the street from Plaza Diego Ibarra in Caracas. Wheelchairs come and go, sometimes squeezing to the side in order to let another person pass ﬁrst...

Media Fails to Inform Public about Shifting Opposition Demands in Post-Election Venezuela

tamara — Sat, 04 May 2013 19:56:54 +0000

Alex Main - CEPR

Alex Main looks at what recent mainstream media coverage of the situation in Venezuela has conveniently left out, and argues that the coverage may be helping promote the climate of tension.

Venezuela: Reaffirmation, Warning and Encouragement for the Revolution

ryan — Sat, 04 May 2013 02:10:49 +0000

Luis Bilbao- Links

With 50.75% of the votes, Nicolás Maduro was elected president of Venezuela. In 14 years, it is the sixth presidential election victory by the revolutionary process.

U.S. Seeks to Get Rid of Left Governments in Latin America

tamara — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:54:33 +0000

Mark Weisbrot - CEPR

Recent events indicate that the Obama administration has stepped up its strategy of “regime change” against the left-of-center governments in Latin America, promoting conflict in ways not seen since the military coup that Washington supported in Venezuela in 2002.

Honor Venezuela's Election; Maduro Won Fair and Square

tamara — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:02:57 +0000

Daniel Kovalik - Post Gazette

I just returned from Venezuela where I was one of 170 international election observers from around the world, including India, Brazil, Great Britain, Argentina, South Korea and France.

Canadian Organizations Condemn Post-Election Violence in Venezuela

chris — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:22:24 +0000

Common Frontiers

We condemn the opposition-initiated violence against innocent supporters of President Nicolas Maduro as an attempt to destabilize Venezuela. In line with UNASUR, we call on the opposition to respect the will of the people and to recognize the results of the CNE.

Venezuela: Ups and Downs of an Election Observer

chris — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:34:52 +0000

Julia Buxton - Latin American Bureau

Julia Buxton has been an observer at elections in Venezuela for nearly twenty years. In April 2013 this was the first election without Hugo Chávez since 1999. This is her report.

Venezuelan Audit Can’t Find Any Different Result in Presidential Election, Statistical Analysis Shows

ryan — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:55:19 +0000

Center for Economic and Policy Research

A statistical analysis by the Center for Economic and Policy Research(CEPR) has shown that if Venezuelan opposition claims that Nicolás Maduro's victory was obtained by fraud were true, it is practically impossible to have obtained the result that was found in an audit of 53% of electronic voting machines that took place on the evening of Venezuela’s April 14 elections. The odds of this occurring would be far less than one in 25 thousand trillion.

The New Yorker Should Ignore Jon Lee Anderson and Issue a Correction on Venezuela

ryan — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:58:31 +0000

Keane Bhatt- NACLA

While one can applaud Jon Lee Anderson for finally acknowledging the value of social indicators and statistical data, he and his magazine cannot be allowed to define “social inequality” any way they see fit.

Venezuela Faces a Soft War

tamara — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:11:34 +0000

David Segarra – Rebelion

Framed in a historical and political context, Segarra describes a soft war, a psychological and multifaceted war, waged by foreign interests and local elites against Venezuelans following death of Hugo Chavez.

Nicolas Maduro did not Steal the Venezuelan Elections

tamara — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:40:08 +0000

Greg Palast - Vice

The guy in the cheap brown windbreaker walking up the dirty tenement steps to my New York office looked like a bus driver. Nicolas Maduro, elected President of Venezuela last Sunday, did indeed drive a bus, then led the drivers’ union, then drove Chávez’s laws through the National Assembly.

The United States Shows its Contempt for Venezuelan Democracy

tamara — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:15:27 +0000

Mark Weisbrot - The Guardian

Washington's clumsy efforts to de-legitimise Venezuela's election mark a escalation of its push for regime change.

A Contender for Dumbest Statement Ever by Amnesty USA?

ryan — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:28:05 +0000

Joe Emersberger - ZCommunications

Amnesty USA called on the Venezuelan government to eliminate post-election violence. The small matter that the violence has been directed at government supporters was comically evaded.

Keys to Understanding What’s Going On

ryan — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:05:19 +0000

Antonio Aponte

The reality, already difficult in itself to decipher, is becoming all the more so through the work of the media who, far from being a means of communication, have transformed themselves into veritable cannons in this war that our country is now suffering.