Posted: April 25th, 2025

SHy friend

 I  attached his edits and my working summary. The professor has attached his feedback so this mainly  just needs revision and the edits made with citations and footnote and a conclusion. I also have my bibliography in case you need it.

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Political Persecution Under Nicolas Maduro

Marquis A. Smith

North Carolina Central University

HIST 4060.01 Latin American Seminar

Dr. Nadel

11/7/2024

The political philosophy of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, known as Chavismo, has had a significant and enduring influence on the nation. Chávez’s vision for Venezuela, which was based on a combination of socialism, nationalism, and anti-imperialism, fundamentally altered the country’s political and economic climate. Although Chavismo sought to alleviate severe inequality and improve the lot of those living in poverty, its policies have also been connected to social unrest, political repression, and economic catastrophe. The impact of Chavismo on Venezuela’s political structure, economics, social programs, human rights, and international relations is examined in this essay. The development of a highly individualized and centralized political structure was one of Chavismo’s main outcomes. By undermining democratic institutions, regulating the judiciary, and restricting press freedoms, Chávez solidified his hold on power. By using presidential decrees and constitutional modifications, he often circumvented the National Assembly and granted the executive branch almost complete authority.

The political structure that resulted, which is frequently described to as “electoral authoritarianism,” enabled Chávez and his successor, Nicolás Maduro, to preserve the image of democracy while compromising the way that democratic administration actually operates. By controlling media outlets, intimidating opposition leaders, and manipulating elections, the Venezuelan government successfully undermined political pluralism and established a regime that many critics view as authoritarian. At first, the regime was successful in redistributing wealth through social programs financed by oil profits. A time of high oil prices during Chávez’s presidency enabled the government to carry out large-scale social programs known as “misiones.” These initiatives tackled housing, healthcare, education, and poverty, and they resulted in notable advancements in living conditions for many Venezuelans. However, because these plans were heavily reliant on shifting oil prices, their long-term viability was in doubt.

A severe economic crisis characterized by hyperinflation, widespread shortages of necessities, and the breakdown of public services resulted from the government’s inability to continue the same level of public spending as oil prices fell. On one hand, Chávez’s measures helped millions of impoverished Venezuelans gain access to basic services and lessened inequality. For instance, Misión Robinson contributed to raising literacy rates, while Misión Barrio Adentro extended healthcare to formerly underprivileged rural and urban regions. However, detractors contend that these initiatives were badly run and unsustainable, frequently acting more as political ploys to shore up Chávez’s base of support than as a component of a long-term development plan. Under Maduro, who lacked the charm and political savvy of his predecessor, many of these programs started to collapse, and by the mid-2010s, much of the progress made in decreasing poverty had been undone.
Growing allegations of human rights abuses by local citizens and media members suggested acts such as extrajudicial executions, torture, and arbitrary detentions, were leveled at both Chávez’s and Maduro’s governments. Political dissent was increasingly suppressed by the Venezuelan government, especially after the 2014 demonstrations against Maduro’s rule. Numerous instances of abuse, frequently committed by security personnel against protesters and opposition members, have been reported by human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. In addition to creating an environment of dread, the crackdown has fueled a vast flight of Venezuelans escaping economic hardship and political persecution. Venezuela’s internal affairs have been significantly impacted by Chavismo. Chávez was an outspoken opponent of American imperialism who aimed to unite Latin American nations to oppose American hegemony in the area. In addition to helping to create regional groups like the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) as alternatives to institutions run by the United States, he developed strong ties with left-leaning governments in Cuba, Bolivia, and Nicaragua. But as Venezuela’s internal circumstances worsened, Chavismo’s international policies also made the country more isolated. Venezuela’s international status was further strained when Maduro’s government was subjected to sanctions by the US, the EU, and a number of Latin American nations in reaction to violations of human rights and the deterioration of democracy.

Although social programs and a more equitable distribution of wealth helped to improve lives in the beginning, Chavismo has had mainly negative long-term impacts. The economy has crashed and the political system has grown more dictatorial. Venezuela has become increasingly isolated on the global scene as a result of its declining international position. With millions of Venezuelans suffering the most from the nation’s political and economic problems, the future is still unknown as it struggles with the legacy of Chavismo.

Under Nicolás Maduro’s rule. The government has used a number of strategies to suppress critical news and independent journalism. Journalists and media organizations that present opposing viewpoints have frequently been subjected to self-censorship as a result of threats, harassment, and legal action. Pro-government media now predominate, independent newspapers and broadcasters have been forced to shut down or restrict their coverage. The civil society organization Espacio Público documented more than 260 instances of freedom of expression violations in 2023, including intimidation and censorship strategies meant to silence dissenting opinions. Maduro’s government has also been charged with stifling opposing views and influencing public opinion through extensive disinformation tactics, especially on digital media. Paid trolls and phony websites, which propagate false information and target critics, help these campaigns. The lack of access to reliable information has been made worse by government-aligned internet companies blocking independent fact-checking websites. According to a research, more than 100 news websites were blocked in Venezuela by 2024.

The court systems, which has been ruled by Maduro since 2004, contributes to this repression by not looking into crimes committed against media outlets and journalists. Given that of the judiciary’s lack of independence, people who harass and threaten reporters can go unpunished. For instance, after exposing government corruption, journalists from the investigative website Armando.info received threats of legal action. These acts have fueled a wave of fear amongst Venezuelan journalists and helped to destroy the independent press. The crackdown went beyond the streets and into newsrooms in 2017, when massive protests broke out against the government’s economic management and political repression. Many journalists covering the protests were imprisoned, threatened, or physically attacked by security personnel. Reporters from foreign media were banned from the nation, and news organizations were closed or suppressed. The government’s response to opposition, including activities against the press, was characterized by severe violence and a contempt for fundamental freedoms, according to international human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch, which have denounced these acts.

Independent media outlets have been under constant pressure since the government has been using legislative tools, such as the Telecommunications Law, to prevent or shut down media outlets that criticize Maduro’s government. For example, the Venezuelan government ended CNN en Español in 2017 after airing a report about phony Venezuelan passports. In addition, while covering political rallies in 2019, BBC World News and other foreign news outlets were barred. Journalists have also been unlawfully detained; one such instance is the 2019 case of Luis Carlos Díaz, who was charged with using social media to incite protests. According to groups like Reporters Without Borders, which regularly places Venezuela among the countries with the lowest press freedom rankings globally, these acts have contributed to a sharp deterioration in journalistic freedom.

Numerous independent journalists have been operating in terror as a result of the severe impact on Venezuela’s press, and numerous international organizations have recorded the country’s declining press freedom. Maduro’s government has made sure that the population has access to highly censored and prejudiced information by siding with influential state-owned media and stifling dissenting opinions. The extensive self-censorship among media professionals as a result of the chilling effect on journalism has further stifled public discourse and accountability in Venezuela. Furthermore, Maduro’s measures against the press reflect larger strategies his government has used to silence civil rights and political dissent. His government has used illegal acts, crudeness, and unjust detentions against protesters and opposition leaders in addition to suppressing the media. These acts reveal a determined attempt to control the narrative in Venezuela, influencing not only politics but also the information that is disseminated to Venezuelans and the rest of the world.

Beyond traditional media, the Maduro government has expanded its control to social media and other digital spaces. In an effort to drown out criticism, state-run media outlets and disinformation channels flood platforms with pro-government content, obscuring independent perspectives. This environment has made it increasingly difficult for Venezuelans to access unbiased information, as the government tightens its grip on both traditional and digital media. Despite his acts, international bodies and governments have widely condemned Maduro’s authoritarian measures against the press. The systematic repression of journalism and media freedom has been flagged as one of the critical barriers to restoring democracy in Venezuela. Despite sanctions and diplomatic efforts to pressure the regime, control over the press remains a pivotal tool Maduro uses to maintain his grip on power.

His administration has routinely targeted journalists, opponents, and independent media organizations. Freedom of expression in Venezuela has been severely curbed by state control over the media and the use of pro-government outlets to spread propaganda. International human rights organizations have widely denounced these actions, which have further exacerbated the nation’s political and economic woes. Many journalists have persisted in covering the situation in spite of these obstacles, frequently putting their lives in danger to do so, underscoring the continuous fight for press freedom under Maduro’s rule.

Under Nicolás Maduro’s leadership, a combination of geopolitical interests, economic pressures, and political difficulties have influenced Venezuela’s relations with its neighbors on a global scale. After Hugo Chávez was overthrown in 2013, Maduro took over a nation that already had tense relations with many of its neighbors. Venezuela’s foreign relations have been greatly impacted by the policies of his administration, especially those pertaining to domestic governance, the economy, and human rights, creating a complicated and frequently tense regional dynamic. Venezuela’s biggest and most important neighbor, Colombia, has one of the most noteworthy ties during Maduro’s leadership. Colombia and Venezuela have historically cooperated and clashed, but under Maduro’s leadership, tensions increased. The border area has been a focal point for insurgency, smuggling, and migration problems. Relations have been strained as a result of Venezuela’s economic collapse and the migration of millions of Venezuelans to Colombia. In 2019, the Colombian government, particularly that of former President Iván Duque, publicly denounced Maduro’s government and acknowledged opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the rightful president of Venezuela. Official diplomatic relations between the two nations were severed as a result of this schism, although unofficial channels of communication were maintained to handle border security concerns.

Brazil, another important neighbor, also changed its relationship with Venezuela. In line with the larger regional socialist movement, Brazil had kept cordial relations with Venezuela under President Dilma Rousseff. But under President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s political landscape took a dramatic reversal. Bolsonaro joined the United States and other nations that backed Guaidó’s bid for president and became an outspoken opponent of Maduro. Venezuela became more isolated on the regional scene as a result of this change in leadership in Brazil, and Maduro’s government came under more political pressure. But relations with Venezuela thawed once Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva returned to the presidency in 2023, adopting a more neutral and diplomatic posture than his predecessor.

To the east, an ongoing territorial dispute over the resource-rich Essequibo region has shaped Venezuela’s relationship with Guyana. The conflict has became more heated under Maduro, particularly when major oil finds were discovered in the disputed waters. Due to Venezuela’s repeated claims to the region, tensions have increased and there have been sporadic clashes. Maintaining positive connections with Peru and Chile was another challenge for Maduro’s government, especially as these nations became as popular destinations for Venezuelan migrants escaping the economic catastrophe. As part of the Lima Group, an organization established to resolve the Venezuelan crisis, Peru and Chile joined a number of countries throughout the Americas in recognizing Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president. Nevertheless, the large-scale migration of Venezuelans affected both nations, sparking internal discussions over social services and immigration policy. In addition to coordinating humanitarian measures to control the migrant influx, tensions periodically arose.

Nevertheless, Maduro has close connections with Bolivia, particularly under Evo Morales’ administration. Both leaders were dedicated to anti-imperialist, socialist principles, and during Morales’ rule, Venezuela gave Bolivia financial assistance. As Luis Arce led Venezuela back to a more left-leaning government, Venezuela’s relations with Bolivia remained strong even after Morales was overthrown. As an example of the ideological differences in the area, Bolivia has been one of the few Latin American nations to continuously back Maduro in international fora. The Caribbean countries and Venezuela have maintained a comparatively steady relationship. By using oil diplomacy, Maduro has carried on Chávez’s tradition of giving the region’s nations inexpensive oil through the Petrocaribe program. Many Caribbean countries have been cautious in their criticism of Maduro, balancing pressure from stronger powers like the United States with their economic obligations, even though the economic crisis has hampered Venezuela’s capacity to sustain the same level of support. Notwithstanding growing sanctions from the United States and European Union, Venezuela has maintained strong diplomatic and economic ties with countries like Cuba in particular.

Significant friction and instability have characterized Venezuela’s diplomatic ties with its neighbors under Nicolás Maduro’s administration, mirroring the country’s larger political and economic problems. Neighbors like Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana frequently found themselves at odds with Venezuela’s policies as Maduro’s administration veered more and more toward dictatorship and battled with economic collapse, hyperinflation, and numerous humanitarian disasters. Deeper diplomatic rifts resulted from Maduro’s administration’s constant framing of international criticism as a component of foreign plots, especially from the United States and its allies. Due to Venezuela’s large refugee flight and border issues, relations with Colombia drastically worsened. Similar severe measures were used by Brazil under President Jair Bolsonaro, as tensions increased over the humanitarian catastrophe in Venezuela and the effects of the refugee issue on the area. However, Maduro relied on ideological unity in the face of international isolation, as evidenced by his close ties to left-leaning countries, especially Cuba and, to a lesser extent, Bolivia and Nicaragua. Major non-Western nations like Russia, China, and Iran continued to provide diplomatic and economic support to Maduro’s government, ensuring its survival in the face of regional resistance, even as Venezuela grew increasingly isolated from its more democratic neighbors. In the end, Maduro’s foreign policy is marked by a notable rift: despite fierce resistance and sanctions from many of its neighbors, the administration developed ties with states that shared its views and international powers that were vital in providing support.

NOTES-

Work on passive tone

Organization

Weak thesis

Slow down!!! Take time to expound

PRIMARY SOURCES (Human Rights Watch/ secondary- Latin American archives)

Venezuela Political Persecution under Nicolas Maduro- Bibliography

Bean, Anderson M. “
Venezuela, Human Rights and Participatory Democracy.” 
Critical Sociology 42 (6): 827–43. 2016

Brady, Augustus.
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Brown, John. 
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Cira Pascual Marquina, and Chris Gilbert. 
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Human Rights Watch (Organization). Emergencies Division. 
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Knight, Gregory L.
Venezuela: Social, Economic and Environmental Issues. Latin American Political, Economic, and Security Issues. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. 2016.

Maduro, Nicolas.
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Marquina, Cira Pascual, and Chris Gilbert. 
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Schincariol, Vitor Eduardo. 
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United States. 
An Act to Impose Targeted Sanctions on Persons Responsible for Violations of Human Rights of Antigovernment Protesters in Venezuela, to Strengthen Civil Society in Venezuela, and for Other Purposes [U.S. Government Printing Office]. 2014.

United States.
Made by Maduro : The Humanitarian Crisis in Venezuela and U.S. Policy Responses : Hearing before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session February 26, 2019. Washington: U.S. Government Publishing Office. 2019.

Stuenkel, Oliver. ”
How South America Let Venezuela Down.” Insight Turkey 19, no. 4 55+.
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“Venezuela: Reporting on Corruption in Venezuela Carries High Toll, Journalists Find.” 
Asia News Monitor, May 16, 2024.

Welcome Venezuela: People Fleeing Massive Human Rights Violations in Venezuela. London, United Kingdom: Amnesty International. 2019.

FOOTNOTE

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2nd time you quote^ only need last name & page number