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Protests in Venezuela: Introduction and Background


In my four-part analysis, I intend to discover the underpinnings of the Venezuelan protests by constructing an argument based on broad historical context, revealing those calling the shots, understanding the economic and social struggles, and recognizing what the media has failed to report.

As of February 12th, growing bodies of Venezuelans have participated in anti-government demonstrations throughout the country. Arising from what usually is a celebration of independence and unity, frustrated opposition groups saw an opportunity to gather and protest their government on the 200th anniversary of the battle of La Victoria. The initial marching, singing, and pot banging fed into an already tense and anxious populace facing product scarcity, high inflation and insecurity, rapidly degraded into violence. 

The protest has claimed at least 16 lives, and several dozen more injured. Making its way to Caracas and other large cities, the opposition led street demonstrations began in Aragua, Lara, Tachira, and Merida. The violence included Molotov cocktails, burning trash, blocking major highways, and vandalizing buses. Security forces have shot rubber bullets and used tear gas to restrain the uncontrollable demonstrations.

Leopoldo Lopez, a representative of the opposition party Primera Justicia and founder of Voluntad Popular, emerged as the anti-government voice and protest advocate, along with prominent right wing political figures Maria Machado and Antonio Ledezma.

President Nicholas Maduro’s administration responded to the demonstrations by calling for government supporters to mobilize and demonstrate. In his Chavez-esque tone, Maduro denounced the right wing factions, condemned the violence, and revealed the foreign financiers that had infiltrated his countries public universities. Despite what the media tries to portray as a simple David vs. Goliath battle through photographic and video imagery, the broad historical and current events leading up to protest provide necessary context. Those benefiting from regime change when examined shed light on much needed inferences to understand what’s going on.

President Maduro and his cabinet have been in power a little over a year since the death of former president Hugo Chavez. After becoming interim president, President Maduro was democratically elected over his opponent Henrique Capriles Radonski in April by a slim margin. The close election however, overshadows the fact that over the last 15 years the Bolivarian Revolution has won 18 out of last 19 major elections. The political domination has led the opposition to use undemocratic processes in the past, 2002 coup attempt, 2004 referendum, and 2005 boycott of parliamentary elections. Unsurprisingly, the desperation has increased because of their unsuccessful bids for control, putting further pressure on the media, the ruling/privileged class, foreign actors, and social forces to try to internally disrupt the Chavista Movement. 

With what seems to be promising opportunities for the opposition, four elections in the last two years, economic struggles, and Chavez’s death, strong opposition candidates have failed to capitalize. This past December the Bolivarian Revolutionaries won majorities in the municipal elections, a huge blow to the opposition. The opposition’s long losing streak doesn’t take away from their financing power, political will, or foreign support, only limiting their chances in participating in legitimate democratic processes. Leopoldo Lopez, Maria Machado, and Antonio Ledezma have all been a part of the undemocratic attempts to challenge Chavez’s government, as they are now trying to do with the protests against Maduro’s. 

Taking advantage of student mobilization, the U. S. State Department, media bias and insecurity, the opposition has managed to bring about massive protests. But who are they really?
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