Venezuela to Begin Nationwide Disarmament
October 13, 2016
venezuela
Maduro Faces Yet Another Strike Against Reputation with Failure of NAM Summit
October 13, 2016
The 17th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) this September resulted in another humiliation for crisis-stricken Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro when only about 10 heads of state showed up.1 The NAM, an anti-imperialist bloc of 120 nations whose last summit in Iran in 2012 drew 35 heads of state, first convened in 1961 with the goal of combating Western domination.2 Maduro’s opposition called the embarrassingly low attendance a “devastating failure” for Maduro.3 This is just one of a slew of recent difficulties
Maduro's "Operation Merry Christmas" Provides Venezuelan Kids with Barbies, But Not Diapers
October 12, 2016
The Barbie Doll, possibly the most commonly criticized, iconic American toy is currently being kept at a historically and artificially low price by the anti-capitalist government in Venezuela, just in time for holiday shopping. What cost mothers and grandmothers up to three weeks minimum wage pay last Christmas (3500 bolivars) is now only about 250 bolivars or USD $3 using the bolivar-to-dollar black market conversion rate.
Making Sense of Opposition in Venezuela: From the MUD to “La Salida” and Back
October 12, 2016
Maduro's Latest Loan and the CELAC-China Outlook
October 11, 2016
Oil prices are rapidly falling, thus Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro decided to make an important trip this past Monday. He announced in a public address on Sunday evening, “I leave on a very important trip to deal with new projects… and the decline in revenues that are the product of the sharp decline in oil prices.”1 First stop, Russia.
Venezuela's President Maduro Hopes to Revive Economy In Midst of Oil Crisis
October 11, 2016
For Venezuela, a country whose economy desperately depends on its oil industry, the fall in the price of oil continues to wreak economic havoc. Oil exports constitute 96% of the country’s export earnings[1], and according to the Venezuelan Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, the end of 2014 saw Venezuelan crude oil prices fall to USD 47.05 per barrel compared to USD 95 in September 2014.
Paid to Wait: Effects of the Venezuelan Economic Crisis
October 11, 2016
While much of the United States has been figuratively dancing in the streets about the incredibly low gas prices as of late, others have not been so fortunate to enjoy the plummet. Rather, their economies have been suffering because of it. One such nation is Venezuela, which has recently entered into a recession due to the global lack of demand for oil. Oil has been Venezuela’s primary export for years, which accounts for 96 percent of its foreign currency reception.1 The central Venezuelan bank also noted 63.6 percent inflation between November 2013 and November 2014.
Narrowing the Gap: Explaining the Increasing Competitiveness of the Venezuelan Opposition
October 10, 2016
A recent survey conducted by the Venezuelan polling firm Datánalisis reveals that the popularity of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro now stands at about 22 percent (El Universal 2014). Maduro won the presidential election in April 2013 with 50.6 percent of the vote - an extremely thin margin compared to the impressive electoral performance of his predecessor – Hugo Chavéz. Ever since, negative public assessment of Maduro is on the rise.
El Pluralismo como Antídoto de la Polarización
October 10, 2016
Hace poco me pidieron escribir sobre el “centro” político en un medio Venezolano. La idea era escribir una columna de opinión sobre sobre lo que significa ser “de centro” hoy. Después de pensarlo con cuidado, llegué a la conclusión de que el centro, por lo menos el centro entendido como un punto medio entre dos extremos ideológicos es difícil de encontrar. Es posible pensar que existen personas menos radicales que otras, pero no conozco la primera persona que esté interesada en política y sea totalmente neutral.
As China's Economy Shifts, Will Latin America Be Affected?
October 10, 2016
A recent report published by the Deutsche Bank revealed that China is rebalancing their economy, creating potentially devastating effects for Latin America. The report highlights the declining growth of real GDP as China shifts from a production to consumption based economy. The shift will have the largest effect on countries that primarily trade natural resources with China. The lessening of dependence on Latin America for metals such as iron ore, copper and crude oil will specifically hurt Chile and Venezuela.
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