This week the New York Times published an opinion piece Abe Lowenthal and I wrote regarding the current negotiation effort led by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (read it in English or Spanish).
We point out that pre-transition authoritarian contexts such as Venezuela today, generally look quite hopeless and unique to those who are living and struggling in them. But past cases suggest that strategic patience, rejection of maximalist positions, negotiation among soft-liners, and a detailed plan for an inclusive transition can generate a breakthrough. We argue that the Norwegian talks and efforts of the European Union’s International Contact Group should be supported and that the U.S. and other countries that have had an antagonistic role should continue their pressure but allow negotiations to flourish.
Senator Marco Rubio took issue with our article in a Twitter thread. We are currently working on a response.
