Features: Bolivarian Project

Allende was Wrong: Neoliberalism, Venezuela's Student Right and the Answer from the Left

By Lucas Koerner- Venezuelanalysis.com, Feb 10th 2015

"Defend University Autonomy for True People's Democracy". Photo taken at the University of the Andes. (Lucas Koer

Venezuelanalysis journalist, Lucas Koerner, takes a look at the rightwing student movement in Venezuela, its ideology and appropriation of leftwing symbols and discourse. He also examines what model of education is being proposed in Venezuela's new "experimental" public universities as an alternative to neoliberal visions of education. This analysis includes an interview with Luis Javier Gomez Rojas, a facilitator at the Bolivarian University for Workers.

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.

Pemon Indigenous Occupy Airport in Venezuela: “We Have Had Enough of Broken Promises”

By Z.C. Dutka- Venezuelanalysis.com, Dec 2nd 2014

The occupied airport does not see much traffic (all photos Z.C. Dutka / Venezuelanalysis.com)

VA.com's Z.C. Dutka gives an eyewitness account of the break out of an indigenous protest in the town of Santa Elena de Uairen in southern Venezuela.

Venezuela’s Indigenous Pemon are Caught in Time on Land Too Valuable for Numbers

By Z.C. Dutka- venezuelanalysis.com, Oct 21st 2014

A pemon boy rests on the way to Mt. Roraima. (Benjamin Mast)

In the shadow of Columbus Day, venezuelanalysis.com writer Z.C. sketches, through interviews, an intimate portrait of a changing people – the Pemon of Venezuela’s mineral-rich Southeastern border. Their testimonies of struggle reflect the country’s changing political landscape and highlights a stark generational gap that afflicts many of Latin America’s first nation peoples.

International Media Barely Raises Eyebrow over Assassination of Pro-Government Legislator in Venezuela

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Oct 6th 2014

The gruesome assassination of pro-government lawmaker Robert Serra (27) and his partner Maria Herrera last Wednesday has shaken

Media either ignored or downplayed Robert Serra’s assassination and side-stepped the issue of far-right political violence, further highlighting how tightly mainstream media sticks to the prevailing narrative on Venezuela.

Venezuelan Voices, Part I: An Economic Spiral

By Z.C. Dutka- Various- venezuelanalysis.com, Aug 26th 2014

On the border between Brazil and Venezuela, if you don't want to wait on the long gas station lines, you can fill up your t

As international media plays its favorite old game of lambasting the Venezuelan government, long-time observers of the Bolivarian process may be wondering how much truth lies in the prime-time reports depicting empty shelves, long lines and charts showing catastrophic inflation. How precarious is Venezuela’s current economy and, more importantly, how much are the effects of this felt by the Venezuelan people?

Planned Reforms May Determine Survival of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Project

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Aug 5th 2014

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has proposed a series of major reforms to the economy, state and party in the hope of settin

The administration of President Nicolas Maduro faces a set of adverse conditions which have the potential to turn a majority of the country’s citizens against the incumbent government at the next election. In this context, there is perhaps more riding on economic and state reforms currently being designed than first meets the eye.

Is Poverty Still Falling in Venezuela?

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Jun 17th 2014

A barrio (informally constructed urban community) in Caracas, with the buildings painted under the urban regeneration social pro

This article examines the claim that poverty is rising in Venezuela by examining the country’s latest poverty statistics, as well as exploring current efforts at further poverty reduction.

Coups, Media and Stalemates: What Violent Protests Mean for Venezuela

By Venezuelanalysis.com, Feb 14th 2014

Venezuelanalysis.com’s staff writers offer their concise insights on three different angles of the violent protests that have

Venezuelanalysis.com’s staff writers offer their concise insights on three different angles of the violent protests that have been occurring in the country: the opposition’s strategy, how the media have reacted, and the implications of the protests for the Bolivarian Revolution.

Attending Need, Not Profit: Venezuela’s Experiment with Community Medicine

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Oct 14th 2013

The February 2012 graduation of the first wave of community doctors, of which there were over 8000 in total (AVN)

How should the healthcare needs of a society be met? Conspicuously absent from international media coverage and under fire from conservative critics at home, Venezuela is developing a public healthcare system distinct from both U.S. market-driven and European welfare-state models. Perhaps nothing makes this system more unique than the kind of doctors being trained to run it.

From “For Now” to “Forever More”: How Venezuelans Said Goodbye to Hugo Chavez

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Mar 10th 2013

Supporters wrote messages to Chavez outside of Heroes Avenue (Reuters / Tomas Bravo)

On Friday 8 March, millions of Venezuelans flocked to Caracas to pay their final tribute to Hugo Chavez. VA.com’s Ewan Robertson gives his eyewitness impression of the day.

Grassroots Activists Speak on Chavez’s Absence: “We’ll Fight Even Harder”

By Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Jan 24th 2013

At a recent march in Merida city (Tamara Pearson / Venezuelanalysis.com)

If anyone is clearest about what Chavez’s absence means and what it could mean in the future, it is the grassroots activists and revolutionaries in Venezuela. While private international and national media paint a picture of hopelessness, economic chaos, a power vacuum and power struggles in Venezuela, the grassroots are experiencing a different reality, and have a much more positive outlook for the future.

Exposing Five Key Media Myths about Chavez’s Health and Swearing-in

By Ewan Robertson and Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com , Jan 8th 2013

Venezuelans signing a petition on Sunday against the media distortions (agencies)

Over the last few weeks the private English language media has stepped up its campaign against the Venezuelan revolution, spreading a number of lies and misconceptions around President Hugo Chavez’s health, and the swearing-in for his new term. Here, Venezuelanalysis.com debunks the top five lies currently being spread by private media.

Venezuela’s 2012 State Election: Lessons for Chavismo and the Opposition

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Dec 18th 2012

The political map of Venezuela’s regions turned even further red after the PSUV took 20 of 23 states in the 2012 regional elec

What does the 2012 regional election tell us about the current political situation in Venezuela and trends going into next year, including for the differing scenarios depending on whether Chavez will be able to assume his next presidential term?

Venezuela’s State Elections: When Winning Comes before Revolution

By Tamara Pearson - VENEZUELANALYSIS.COM, Dec 12th 2012

Supporters rally for PSUV candidate for Merida, Alexis Ramirez. Their placards say “Alexis – governor, loyalty always” (YV

Internal debate and criticism of the PSUV and its current state election campaign, as well as proper grassroots involvement, has been put off, and put off, because in this incredibly democratic country there is always some kind of election coming up. Yet for how long will such sacrifices be made in the name of defeating the capitalist opposition?