Examining Whitewashed Imperialism: Western 'Left' and Venezuela's Controversial Relationship
When the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela faces threats to its survival, a select group of US-based intellectuals are quick to criticize the movement, often intentionally obfuscating the continuous imperialist attempts to undermine the country. In the aftermath of disputed July 28 elections, liberal academics like Gabriel Hetland and Alejandro Velasco have downplayed the impact of US sanctions and blamed the Maduro government for endogenous factors like corruption and austerity.
Both analysts have a history of criticizing the Maduro government, echoing the 'plague on both your houses' approach. Their left-wing critiques are part of a broader genre emanating from the global North, attacking Southern governments targeted by Washington, such as Syria, Iran, Zimbabwe, China, Cuba, and others.
Velasco justifies the minimal impact of US sanctions on Venezuela, claiming they are not its primary cause, and that it's internal problems that led to the opposition's victory. This assertion is disingenuous, as experts like Francisco Rodríguez estimate that approximately half of the decline in GDP observed in Venezuela between 2012 and 2020 can be attributed to politically-induced causes, including economic sanctions.
Presenting an analysis of the latest election that overlooks the role of US imperialism is deceptive, as Venezuela went to the polls with a powerful imperialist threat pressured against their heads. The country's economic policies are in a vacuum and poorly understood without considering the world-systemic context that shapes them. The Maduro government's embrace of economic liberalization came after years of relentless US-led hybrid warfare, aiming to block the revolutionary progress and weaken national sovereignty.
It's counterproductive to assume a fascist-led opposition victory would revitalize Chavismo or the Venezuelan left. The fascist menace represented by Maria Corina Machado says otherwise, who explicitly advocates the eradication of Chavismo. Hetland and Velasco downplay the threat posed by post-electoral violence targeting Chavista activists, such as the assassination of Isabel Gil and Mayauris Silva, recalling the deadly guarimbas of 2014 and 2017.
Venezuelan social movements see this threat as existential and continue to support the Maduro government amid their internal critiques. The Maduro administration is running a war economy, lacking effective planning instruments, and continuously confronted with a limited menu of 'bad' options due to suffocating sanctions. The energy sector offers clear examples of the US' influence, such as transnational Chevron taking over operations and sales in joint ventures despite being a minority partner. Natural gas deals also evidence Caracas' weak bargaining position, with PDVSA denied stakes and reduced to merely collecting taxes and royalties.
The consummation of the imperialist regime change campaign would pose a severe risk to the future of Chavismo and the Venezuelan left. The suggestion that the Maduro government should cede power to a fascist-led opposition is reckless and endangers the lives of thousands of Chavista organizers like Gil and Silva. These US-based academics demand no demands on the US Empire, the leading power responsible for violence against the Venezuelan people and the global South.
- Venezuelan Analysis has highlighted the disingenuous arguments of liberal academics like Gabriel Hetland and Alejandro Velasco, who have wielded ready criticisms of the Maduro government, often ignoring the impact of US sanctions on the Venezuelan economy.
- Despite their readiness to blame the Maduro government for internal problems like corruption and austerity, these analysts overlook the role of US imperialism in shaping Venezuela's political landscape and its general news.
- Ignoring the role of US imperialism in Venezuela's disputed elections is deceptive, as the country's economic policies are heavily influenced by the global dynamics of war-and-conflicts and politics, particularly the US-led hybrid warfare against the Maduro government.
- The worst-case scenario, as seen by Venezuelan social movements, would be the victories of fascist-led oppositions like Maria Corina Machado, who actively threaten the existence of Chavismo and the Venezuelan left, as evidenced by the assassinations of Chavista activists like Isabel Gil and Mayauris Silva.
