David Smilde
Jan. 24
1 min read
WBEZ Worldview: Venezuela Now has Two Presidents
I spoke to Jerome McDonnell of WBEZ Worldview about Venezuela this morning. You can listen on the web here.…
David Smilde
WOLA Senior Fellow and the Charles A. and Leo M. Favrot Professor of Human Relations at Tulane University
David Smilde, curator of the blog, is a WOLA Senior Fellow and the Charles A. and Leo M. Favrot Professor of Human Relations at Tulane University. He has lived in or worked on Venezuela since 1992. Professor Smilde has researched Venezuela for the past twenty years. He has taught at the Universidad Central de Venezuela and the Universidad Católica Ándres Bello. From 2010-2012 he was the Chair of the Venezuelan Studies Section of the Latin American Studies Association. He is currently working on a book manuscript called Venezuela’s Transition to Socialism: Politics and Human Rights under Chávez, 2008-2012. He is co-editor of Venezuela's Bolivarian Democracy: Participation, Politics and Culture under Chávez (Duke 2011).
Posts by David
David Smilde
Jan. 23
1 min read
Background Briefing: Trump Recognizes Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s Interim President
I spoke with Ian Masters about events in Venezuela today. You can listen below.
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David Smilde
Jan. 23
1 min read
Interview on Pence Video with Talk News Media
Yesterday I did a quick interview with Luke Vargas for is “The World in 2:00” program, focusing on the impact of Vice President Mike Pence’s video yesterday. You can listen on the player below, or read the transcript here.…
David Smilde
Jan. 22
6 min read
Venezuela Weekly: On the Eve of January 23
[Due to my schedule, during the coming months I will be publishing the Venezuela Weekly at the beginning of the week (Monday or Tuesday.)]
In the early-morning hours of Monday, January 21, a group of Bolivarian National Guardsmen revolted in …
David Smilde
Jan. 11
5 min read
Venezuelans reject Maduro presidency — but most would oppose foreign military operation to oust him
AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos
David Smilde, Tulane University
Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who has led his country into one of the …
David Smilde
Jan. 10
5 min read
Venezuela Weekly: Showdown over Maduro’s Swearing-in
Major streets and highways of Caracas have been decorated with banners declaring #YoSoyPresidente (#IAmPresident) 10E (10th of January) effectively expressing both Nicolás Maduro’s intentions to be sworn in for a second presidential term, despite broad rejection of the May …
David Smilde
Jan. 6
1 min read
Venezuela Needs Politics and Diplomacy, not Military Intervention
A couple of times a year, my colleague Abraham Lowenthal and I talk by phone or by email about Venezuela. Abe, of course, is a leading Latinamericanist international relations scholar and expert in democratic transitions (see his book with Sergio …
2 min read
Report: How the U.S. Government Can Advance a Negotiated, Nonviolent Solution to Venezuela’s Crisis
David Smilde
Dec. 12
4 min read
Venezuela Weekly: Strategizing for January 10
The approaching date of Nicolas Maduro’s swearing for his second term has regional and domestic opponents discussing and formulating their strategies.
Peru is proposing to members of the Lima Group that they break off diplomatic relations with Venezuela and that …
David Smilde
Dec. 7
5 min read
Venezuela Weekly: Abstention, Division…and Renewal?
On Sunday there will be nationwide elections for municipal councils. Pollsters are expecting a low turnout, probably between 10-15%. Of course municipal elections are often marked by light participation, but in this election Venezuela’s four biggest opposition parties are not …