AFTER CHAVEZ: THE MADURO GOVERNMENT AND THE ‘ECONOMIC WAR’ IN VENEZUELA

In the following article “After Chavez: The Maduro Government and the “Economic War” in Venezuela, I present a balanced view of the government of Nicolas Maduro from a leftist perspective. On the one hand, I criticize Maduro for not acting decisively in getting the system of exchange controls under control, while recognizing that the situation he inherited from Chavez in 2013 was complex. In addition, the article criticizes the Chavista leadership for not providing space for those who support the process of change but formulate critical positions. On the other hand, the article argues that those who deny President Maduro’s leftist credentials and claim that the process of change is completely in reverse gear ignore that he has upheld and extended Chávez’s policy toward the private sector which envisions responsibilities and threatens punishment and, in ultimate instance, expropriation if those obligations are not fulfilled. Furthermore, the whole issue of exchange controls and devaluation is largely devoid of ideological implications.

The article was originally written for the printed version of a magazine which had accepted publication but at a future date. I decided instead to publish it with the on-line “New Left Project.” I would very much appreciate feedback and comments of all type:

http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php/site/article_comments/after_chavez_the_maduro_government_and_the_economic_war_in_venezuela1