Unidad Educativa Bilingüe Internacional Centro Educativo La Moderna

Name: Samaniego Aguayo Alejandra

Subject: Research

Teacher: Ms. Caroley Alvarado

Topic: Extended Essay- Chapter II

Course: 3rd Baccalaureate “D”

Date: 04/10/2023

Chapter 2

Lack of democracy in Venezuela's government

1.1. The role of political ideology and lack of democracy in driving migration and

economic collapse.

Returning to the late 80s, Carlos Andrés Pérez´s government was addressing a crisis

due to the decline in oil prices and the government's overspending. The crisis led to social

unrest and protests, which later it was called “Caracazo”, which was the rejection of people

with the falling prices that Venezuela started accumulating because of the foreign debt. Over

the course of the “Caracazo”, prices of oil, electricity, telecommunications, and water had

increased by 100% in a quite short period of time. The protests were mainly in response to

the government's economic reforms, which resulted in an increase in the price of oil and

transportation for the citizens.

citizens during the crisis, they saw the poverty rate increase by 60%, with one in three

Venezuelans living with less than $2 US dollars (Venezuelanalysis, 2016). It describes how

the crisis influenced an increase in the poverty rate during the previous years, highlighting the

impact of the economic crisis on the Venezuelan population and the country's political and

economic instability. This event has also become worse and led to approximately 6 million

Venezuelans leaving the country since 2014, seeking for better living conditions. The Latin

American country has been dealing with an excessive growth of political dissatisfaction over

the recent years.

Figure 1

Note. Statistics corresponding to wages from the Venezuelan population. From “After a 30%

Hike, Venezuela´s Minimum Wage Is Just $13 a Month'', by Nathan Crooks, 2015,

Bloomberg News. Retrieved October 3, 2023, from

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-16/venezuela-raises-minimum-wage-30-

it-s-still-only-13-a-month#xj4y7vzkg
 As demonstrated in Figure 1, it is shown the statistics of how Venezuelan population

wages had been decreasing throughout the years, demonstrating that the breaking point was

in October 2015. “The minimum wage has already increased 52 percent so far this year, but

to protect salaries for the last quarter of the year, I´ve decided to decree another 30 percent

increase.” Maduro said (Bloomberg, 2015). Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro,

manifested the fourth minimum wage as the South American country battles the highest

inflation rate in the world. At the black-market exchange rate, it is still only about $13 US

dollars a month.

1.2. Political ideology in Venezuela and its impact on democracy.

Political Ideology has had a major factor throughout Venezuela's history, since the

lack of democracy had always been active in this nation. From conservative leadership to the

development of socialism under Hugo Chávez and his successor Nicolas Maduro, the nation

has undergone numerous ideological changes. The political landscape and policies adopted

by various governments have been impacted by these ideological shifts. Venezuela's political

ideology has a significant influence on democratic institutions and procedures.

Greater equality in socioeconomic status was advocated under Chávez´s “Bolivarian

Revolution”, but there was also a consolidation of power in the judicial system and a decline

of checks and balances (America, 2007). As a result democratic institutions were

undermined, the separation of powers was curtailed, and government control over important

areas, like the economy expanded. The political takeover of the Supreme Court by Chávez

and his supporters in 2004 damaged the rule of law in Venezuela because of the judicial

system´s power consolidation. In Venezuela the lack of checks and balances has also resulted

in discriminatory policies that have restricted the freedom of speech of journalists, the ability

of workers to organize freely and the capacity of civil society to advance human rights.
 There were incidents of media censorship and restrictions on dissenting voices critical

of the government during Chávez´s presidency. His political administration justified its media

policies as necessary to “democratize” the country´s airwaves, but instead of encouraging

plurality, the government utilized its regulatory authority to intimidate and censor its

adversaries (Human Rights Watch, 2013). In other words, the government greatly improved

its ability to oversee the content of the country's broadcast and news media, and it adopted

legislation. As the country's economic and political challenges worsened, new restrictions on

freedom of speech and press were imposed, raising concerns about the country's lack of

democracy.

The consolidation of power in the government, the erosion of checks and balances,

and restrictions on dissenting voices have all contributed to the country's economic and

migration crises. Lack of democracy and political divisiveness have made reaching a peaceful

accord or transition impossible. Venezuela´s situation has resulted in many people leaving the

nation in quest of better opportunities. There has been a considerable surge in migration

trends from Venezuela to international countries, such as Ecuador, in recent years.

1.3. Migration trends from Venezuela to foreign countries

The current political and economic crisis in Venezuela, which is marked by

hyperinflation, shortage of necessities, high levels of violence, and limited access to

healthcare and education, are one of the main factors pushing migration from the nation.

Furthermore, political repression and a lack of democratic institutions have led to the increase

in migration. Colombia, Perú, Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and the USA are popular

destinations for Venezuelan migrants. Probably because of their geographical location but

mainly because of the economic prospects and more stable political regimes.
Figure 2

Note. Statistics corresponding to the number of Venezuelan citizens who are migrating to

foreign countries. “Venezuelans flee the economic crisis”, Deutsche Welle, 2018, DW Made

for minds news. Retrieved October 3, 2023, from https://www.dw.com/en/venezuelan-

government-thousands-of-migrants-want-to-come-back/a-45285540

As demonstrated in Figure 2, it describes the number of Venezuelan citizens who

migrated only in one year. Two hundred thousand of the population is a large percentage for

only one year, and the ones who migrate illegally are not registered as the ones who migrate

legally. Maduro blamed the country's crisis on what he says is an “economic war” that has

been waged against his government and has branded the Venezuela exodus a “right-wing

campaign.” He has recently claimed that his new economic reforms will encourage migrants

to return and take part in rebuilding the country.

Venezuelan migration has had a huge socioeconomic influence on host countries.

While it has boosted cultural variety and provided new skills and talents to local
communities, it has also put an increase on public services such as healthcare, education,

housing, and social welfare systems in these countries. The surge of migrants has increased

the competition for jobs among locals, resulting in reduced earnings in some cases. However,

many Venezuelan migrants also face socio-cultural adjustments as they settle into unfamiliar

societies with different norms and customs.

Several nations have responded to Venezuela´s migratory problem by giving refuge

and creating protection-oriented arrangements that allow for legal stay, paperwork, and

fundamental socio-economic rights. To control Venezuelan migration, host countries have

established a variety of policies and remedies, for example, allowing migrants to stay legally

for a certain time or providing them with work permits (Global Focus, n.d.). For this

population is something beneficious since other countries due the limited resources,

bureaucratic processes, xenophobia in some sectors of society, and strained relations between

receiving communities and newcomers, managing this large-scale migration has presented

issues for host governments. Offering emergency aid to meet immediate needs, and

implementing protection measures are also an efficient way for Venezuelan migrants.
 References

America, L. (2007). VENEZUELA: HUGO CHÁVEZ’S REVOLUTION. Refworld.org.

https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/45f012032.pdf

Crooks, N. (2015). After a 30% Hike, Venezuela´s Minimum Wage Is Just $13 a Month.

[Statistics]. Bloomberg.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-16/venezuela-raises-minimum-

wage-30-it-s-still-only-13-a-month#xj4y7vzkg

Deutsche W. (2018, August 30). Venezuela says “thousands” of migrants want to return.

[Statistics]. Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/en/venezuelan-government-

thousands-of-migrants-want-to-come-back/a-45285540

Global Focus. (n.d.). Venezuela situation. Retrieved October 4, 2023, from

https://reporting.unhcr.org/operational/situations/venezuela-situation

Human Rights Watch. (2013, March 5). Venezuela: Chávez’s authoritarian legacy.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/03/05/venezuela-chavezs-authoritarian-legacy

Venezuelanalysis. (2016, March 1). Venezuela’s Caracazo: State repression and neoliberal

misrule. https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/11868/

Wilkinson, D. (2008). A Decade Under Chávez. Human Rights Watch.

https://www.hrw.org/report/2008/09/18/decade-under-chavez/political-intolerance-

and-lost-opportunities-advancing-human