Venezuelan analysis in English:
Suggested links for those who are already pretty much convinced the Bolivarian “Revolution” was a fraud, and could now most accurately be described as an authoritarian narco-state run by an incompetent mafia that uses patronage, radical rhetoric and the image of a popular now-deceased demagogic caudillo as cover for its crimes)
- Venezuelan Daily Brief is somewhat of a misnomer since it is a bi-weekly information source, though in fact it posts rather irregularly. When it does publish, it offers a very good summary of the socio-political-economic situation in Venezuela.
- www.caracaschronicles.com is my regular “go-to” for news in English, often presented with a snarky wit, but strong on analysis from a center-left/right point of view: intelligent opposition which critiques, also, the opposition. They aim to be accurate, though Naky Soto (who does a near daily summary of news in Venezuela) makes no bones about her feelings for the government.
- Miguel Octavio singlehandedly runs several blogs on subjects ranging from his orchid collection to Venezuela. The one that concerns us here is https://devilexcrement.com/
- I don’t follow the Caracas Gringo much, but he seems to dig deeply in the arcane subjects that interest him. Certainly worth looking at from time to time: https://caracasgringo.wordpress.com/
- Daniel in Yaracuy? Yes, this blog is in English, and it’s his “news and views” from the center of the chaos: http://daniel-venezuela.blogspot.com/
- http://venezuelaconspiracytheories.blogspot.com/ is often a hoot. Check out their archives.
- This is a stunning piece from, of all places, the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. Here’s the inside look at how the US military elite view the situation in Venezuela. And it will likely surprise you: http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/index.cfm/articles/the-approaching-implosion-of-venezuela/2015/07/10
- For a good source for news about Latin America in general Ben Dangl, April Howard and others continue to do great reporting at www.upsidedownworld.org. They also kept up an intolerably uncritical pro-Chavista line until the December 2015 elections in Venezuela revealed that two-thirds of the electorate were now opposition, and, to their credit, they quit publishing pro-government propaganda. I can now recommend them in good conscience as they’re one of the best sources for info on social movements and people’s political struggles in Latin America.
- But of course, if you want the Bolivarian government’s point of view you can check out www.venezuelanalysis.com and a host of other websites. They rarely depart from “the line” so it’s much like reading a rehash of the official Correo del Orinoco: http://www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve/