Since U.S. forces removed Venezuelan autocrat Nicolás Maduro on January 3, the country’s future has been in question. Will the longtime Chavista regime remain in charge, or will Venezuela democratize? Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former deputy, is trying to keep the repressive regime in power. But democratic leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado wants to return Venezuela to a democracy.
Two Journal of Democracy online exclusives — “How Maduro’s Dictatorship Plans to Survive,” by Freddy Guevara, and “How Machado Can Steer Venezuela Toward Democracy,” by José Ramón Morales-Arilla — lay out the strategies these two leaders could adopt, and which are most likely to succeed.
How Maduro’s Dictatorship Plans to Survive
Delcy Rodríguez and her cronies aren’t going to surrender easily. They plan to adapt and undermine any attempt to restore Venezuela’s democracy. This is their strategy.
Freddy GuevaraHow Machado Can Steer Venezuela Toward Democracy
Whether the capture of Nicolás Maduro leads to democracy depends on Donald Trump — and María Corina Machado’s ability to make a democratic future the only attractive choice.
José Ramón Morales-ArillaWhy the United States Shouldn’t Run Venezuela
Nicolás Maduro has been removed, but the dictatorship he led remains. If this period of American tutelage drags too long, it will be a recipe for disaster for Venezuela and the United States.
Juan Miguel MatheusHow Venezuela Actually Becomes a Democracy
The South American country may be on the verge of real change. But it isn’t going to descend into civil-war chaos like Libya. It will be difficult, imperfect, and far better than what Venezuelans have had to endure.
José Ramón Morales-Arilla
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