The Maduro Regime's Illicit Activities

The Maduro Regime's Illicit Activities PDF Author: Douglas Farah
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781619771130
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description

The Maduro Regime's Illicit Activities

The Maduro Regime's Illicit Activities PDF Author: Douglas Farah
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781619771130
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description


Autocracy Rising

Autocracy Rising PDF Author: Javier Corrales
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
ISBN: 0815738080
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 258

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Book Description
How Nicolás Maduro reinvented authoritarianism for the twenty-first centurVenezuela, which once enjoyed periods of democratically elected governments in the latter half of the twentieth century, has descended into autocratic rule, coupled with economic collapse. In his new book, Autocracy Rising, veteran scholar of Latin American politics Javier Corrales explores how and why this happened. Corrales focuses on two themes: party systems and institutional capacity. He argues that Venezuela’s democratic backsliding advanced when the ruling party obtained far too much electoral clout while the opposition fragmented. The state then took control of formerly independent agencies of the state. This allowed the ruling party to use and abuse of the law to favor the president—which in turn generated a permanent economic crisis. After succeeding Hugo Chávez in 2013, Nicolás Maduro confronted, unexpectedly, another change in the party system: a rising opposition. This triggered deeper autocratization. To survive, the state was compelled to modernize autocratic practices and seek alliances with sinister partners. In short, Maduro concentrated power, paradoxically, by sharing power. Autocracy Rising compares what occurred in Venezuela to twenty other cases throughout Latin America where presidents were forced out of office. Corrales illuminates the depressing cycle in which semi-authoritarian regimes become increasingly autocratic in response to crisis, only to cause new crises that lead to even greater authoritarianism.

The Day After in Venezuela: Delivering Security and Dispensing Justice

The Day After in Venezuela: Delivering Security and Dispensing Justice PDF Author: Paul J. Angelo
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


DANGEROUS TIMES

DANGEROUS TIMES PDF Author: Johan Obdola
Publisher: Johan Obdola
ISBN: 1775245306
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 330

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Book Description
Dear reader, As we embark together on the riveting literary journey within the captivating pages of "DANGEROUS TIMES," a series of books, I am overwhelmed with a profound sense of purpose and a shared commitment to unravelling the intricate challenges our world currently grapples with. “DANGEROUS TIMES, The Americas Under the Shadows of Terror,” the inaugural book of this series, and its subsequent installments, transcend mere compilations of facts and stories. Instead, they stand as a testament to the collective effort required to confront the escalating spectre of terrorism, narco-terrorism, and transnational crime, along with their ominous implications for global security. Within these pages, you will find narratives that are not isolated incidents but interconnected threads, weaving a broader tapestry of our shared human experience. As I weave the threads of "DANGEROUS TIMES", I find myself retracing the gritty footsteps of my past—a counter-narcotics officer navigating the labyrinth of drug cartels, a sentinel in the realm of geopolitical security intelligence, "Amidst ongoing discussions of global terrorism, it is crucial to make your voice heard. Speak up and let your opinion make a difference in the fight against this threat. Each word in this narrative bears the indelible imprints of real encounters—the palpable tension of covert operations, the chill of deciphering geopolitical puzzles, and the weight of responsibility as an advisor in the ever-evolving theatre of transnational crime, terrorism, and narco-terrorism. I extend a heartfelt invitation to you to delve into the intricate web of global money-laundering operations, the audacious expansion of narco-terrorism and terrorism, and the subtle infiltration of criminal organizations into the very fabric of nations. Through these gripping stories, I intend to shine a brilliant light on the urgent need for a unified global response to these pressing challenges. While the narratives may unveil the darkness that exists, they also carry a powerful message of hope and courage. The human spirit, when faced with overwhelming adversity, possesses the innate power to endure, resist, and ultimately prevail. “DANGEROUS TIMES” thrives on this resilience. As you turn the pages of this literary saga, I urge you to ponder intensely on the shared responsibility we collectively hold to safeguard our world. Let these stories serve as a clarion call to action, inspiring us all to actively contribute towards a future where security is not merely a privilege but an inalienable right for every individual. I express my sincere gratitude for joining me on this exploration. May our collective journey through these "DANGEROUS TIMES" ignite vital conversations, foster understanding, and contribute substantially, paving the way for a safer, more secure world. With heartfelt gratitude, Johan Obdola

Dragon in the Tropics

Dragon in the Tropics PDF Author: Javier Corrales
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0815705026
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 209

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Book Description
Since he was first elected in 1999, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frías has reshaped a frail but nonetheless pluralistic democracy into a semi-authoritarian regime—an outcome achieved with spectacularly high oil income and widespread electoral support. This eye-opening book illuminates one of the most sweeping and unexpected political transformations in contemporary Latin America. Based on more than fifteen years' experience in researching and writing about Venezuela, Javier Corrales and Michael Penfold have crafted a comprehensive account of how the Chávez regime has revamped the nation, with a particular focus on its political transformation. Throughout, they take issue with conventional explanations. First, they argue persuasively that liberal democracy as an institution was not to blame for the rise of chavismo. Second, they assert that the nation's economic ailments were not caused by neoliberalism. Instead they blame other factors, including a dependence on oil, which caused macroeconomic volatility; political party fragmentation, which triggered infighting; government mismanagement of the banking crisis, which led to more centralization of power; and the Asian crisis of 1997, which devastated Venezuela's economy at the same time that Chávez ran for president. It is perhaps on the role of oil that the authors take greatest issue with prevailing opinion. They do not dispute that dependence on oil can generate political and economic distortions—the "resource curse" or "paradox of plenty" arguments—but they counter that oil alone fails to explain Chávez's rise. Instead they single out a weak framework of checks and balances that allowed the executive branch to extract oil rents and distribute them to the populace. The real culprit behind Chávez's success, they write, was the asymmetry of political power.

Crude Nation

Crude Nation PDF Author: Raúl Gallegos
Publisher: Potomac Books
ISBN: 1640122133
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 262

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Book Description
Beneath Venezuelan soil lies an ocean of crude—the world’s largest reserves—an oil patch that shaped the nature of the global energy business. Unfortunately, a dysfunctional anti-American, leftist government controls this vast resource and has used its wealth to foster voter support, ultimately wreaking economic havoc. Crude Nation reveals the ways in which this mismanagement has led to Venezuela’s economic ruin and turned the country into a cautionary tale for the world. Raúl Gallegos, a former Caracas-based oil correspondent, paints a picture both vivid and analytical of the country’s economic decline, the government’s foolhardy economic policies, and the wrecked lives of Venezuelans. Without transparency, the Venezuelan government uses oil money to subsidize life for its citizens in myriad unsustainable ways, while regulating nearly every aspect of day-to-day existence in Venezuela. This has created a paradox in which citizens can fill up the tanks of their SUVs for less than one American dollar while simultaneously enduring nationwide shortages of staples such as milk, sugar, and toilet paper. Gallegos’s insightful analysis shows how mismanagement has ruined Venezuela again and again over the past century and lays out how Venezuelans can begin to fix their country, a nation that can play an important role in the global energy industry. This paperback edition features a new introduction by the author.

China on the Ground in Latin America

China on the Ground in Latin America PDF Author: E. Ellis
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 1137439777
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 477

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Book Description
An analysis of the new physical presence of Chinese companies operating in Latin America and the Caribbean, the associated challenges that they face, and how they are impacting the region and its relationship with the PRC.

Financial Crisis Management and Democracy

Financial Crisis Management and Democracy PDF Author: Bettina De Souza Guilherme
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030548953
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 372

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Book Description
This open access book discusses financial crisis management and policy in Europe and Latin America, with a special focus on equity and democracy. Based on a three-year research project by the Jean Monnet Network, this volume takes an interdisciplinary, comparative approach, analyzing both the role and impact of the EU and regional organizations in Latin America on crisis management as well as the consequences of crisis on the process of European integration and on Latin America’s regionalism. The book begins with a theoretical introduction, exploring the effects of the paradigm change on economic policies in Europe and in Latin America and analyzing key systemic aspects of the unsustainability of the present economic system explaining the global crises and their interconnections. The following chapters are divided into sections. The second section explores aspects of regional governance and how the economic and financial crises were managed on a macro level in Europe and Latin America. The third and fourth sections use case studies to drill down to the impact of the crises at the national and regional levels, including the emergence of political polarization and rise in populism in both areas. The last section presents proposals for reform, including the transition from finance capitalism to a sustainable real capitalism in both regions and at the inter-regional level of EU-LAC relations.The volume concludes with an epilogue on financial crises, regionalism, and domestic adjustment by Loukas Tsoukalis, President of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). Written by an international network of academics, practitioners and policy advisors, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students interested in macroeconomics, comparative regionalism, democracy, and financial crisis management as well as politicians, policy advisors, and members of national and regional organizations in the EU and Latin America.

Democratic Transitions

Democratic Transitions PDF Author: Sergio Bitar
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 142141760X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 487

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Book Description
Thirteen former presidents and prime ministers discuss how they helped their countries end authoritarian rule and achieve democracy. National leaders who played key roles in transitions to democratic governance reveal how these were accomplished in Brazil, Chile, Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, and Spain. Commissioned by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), these interviews shed fascinating light on how repressive regimes were ended and democracy took hold. In probing conversations with Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Patricio Aylwin, Ricardo Lagos, John Kufuor, Jerry Rawlings, B. J. Habibie, Ernesto Zedillo, Fidel V. Ramos, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Tadeusz Mazowiecki, F. W. de Klerk, Thabo Mbeki, and Felipe González, editors Sergio Bitar and Abraham F. Lowenthal focused on each leader’s principal challenges and goals as well as their strategies to end authoritarian rule and construct democratic governance. Context-setting introductions by country experts highlight each nation’s unique experience as well as recurrent challenges all transitions faced. A chapter by Georgina Waylen analyzes the role of women leaders, often underestimated. A foreword by Tunisia’s former president, Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, underlines the book’s relevance in North Africa, West Asia, and beyond. The editors’ conclusion distills lessons about how democratic transitions have been and can be carried out in a changing world, emphasizing the importance of political leadership. This unique book should be valuable for political leaders, civil society activists, journalists, scholars, and all who want to support democratic transitions.

Dragon in the Tropics

Dragon in the Tropics PDF Author: Javier Corrales
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
ISBN: 0815725949
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description
"This new and expanded edition of Dragon in the Tropics—the widely acclaimed account of how president Hugo Chávez (1999–2013) revamped Venezuela’s political economy—examines the electoral decline of Chavismo after Chavez’s death and the policies adopted by his successor, Nicolás Maduro, to cope with the economic chaos inherited from previous radical populist policies. Corrales and Penfold argue that Maduro has had to struggle with the inherent contradictions of a large and heterogeneous social coalition, a declining oil sector, the strength of entrenched military interests, and fewer resources to appease international allies, which have strenghtened the autocratic features of an already consolidated hybrid regime. In examining the new political realities of Venezuela, the authors offer lessons on the dynamics of succession in hybrid regimes. This book is a must-read for scholars and analysts of Latin America. "