Venezuela, like many countries in Latin America, has been plagued by poverty and unequal income distribution for decades. This made this oil-rich country prone to come under the political influence of populist leaders such as former President Hugo Chavez. He used the world’s biggest oil reserves to aid the poor and to gain political leverage by subsidizing gas for all. Venezuelans’ quality of life dramatically improved at the third-fastest pace world-wide. However, his radical populist policies and those of current President Nicolas Maduro, a former truck driver, named his “legitimate successor” were unsustainable in the long run. Venezuela’s economy is currently in the brink of ruins, with 57 percent inflation, shortages of food and other household goods, and the highest murder rates and criminality in the region.
 
This turmoil triggered popular protests against the Maduro government that has responded with brutality, resulting in dozens of deaths. Venezuela’s levels of political polarization reflect a deeper structural problem rooted in dramatically contrasting notions of democracy and governance. Venezuela’s radical populist leaders are perpetuating some cultural beliefs and value systems that have prevailed throughout Latin America’s history: Personalismo -- the practice of glorifying a single charismatic leader instead of an ideal or party; and Caudillismo -- power based on violence and personal relations.
 
Chavez masterfully embraced all these traits and perfected the art of keeping himself perpetually in power as the comandante eterno (eternal commander): he undermined democratic institutions; eliminated checks and balances; ignored the rule of law; promoted rampant nepotism; and controlled the media with state-sponsored television, which made his policies believable to the masses. After his death, his policies were carried over by his followers who perpetuated his “mythical status.” Devotion and loyalty to Chavez “holiness” is a requirement for access to public office – not competence or performance.
 
Maduro has fully benefited from a severely distorted “democratic system” created by Chavez. Maduro won an unfair election that allowed him to win with only a 1.5 percent margin. Elections were rigged with the incumbent using the state machinery and resources, while the opposition leader Henrique Capriles was literally banned from the media. Opposition and protesters have been demonized and accused of being “in collusion with fascists and the U.S.-sponsored CIA.” Repression and political persecution have been possible because the executive controls the judicial power and the general attorney. Furthermore, strong militarization has compensated for Maduro’s lack of charisma. Maduro is advised by a military “political command,” governance is conducted under military logic; key offices are in the hands of active duty military officers; and many states are governed by active duty military, which is against the constitution.
 
In short, Venezuela has been robbed of its democratic institutions. It is no longer a democracy and it continues to heavily subsidize Cuba with cheap crude oil. Despite all the evidence of brutality, corruption and illegality, the U.S. continues to import from Venezuela 800,000 barrels of heavy oil a day. Maduro’s government also has the sympathy of other countries in the Latin American left, including Argentina and Brazil.