Autocracy Rising: How Venezuela Transitioned to Authoritarianism

Autocracy Rising explores how and why Venezuela's slide into authoritarianism began with the policies of former president Hugo Chávez and how Nicolás Maduro entrenched these policies, leading to a lingering economic crisis and undermining democracy. Corrales compares Venezuela's crisis to twenty cases in Latin America where presidents were forced out of office, illuminating the depressing cycle in which semi-authoritarian regimes become increasingly autocratic in response to crises.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 01 March 2023
Publisher: Brookings Institution

Venezuela, once a stable democracy, has experienced a concerning trend towards authoritarianism in recent years, a phenomenon known as "democratic backsliding." This alarming development has been explored in detail in the book "Autocracy Rising" by a veteran scholar of Venezuela and Latin American politics, Juan Corrales. Corrales argues that the slide towards autocracy in Venezuela began with the policies of former president Hugo Chávez, which were based on government control of the economy and led to a lingering economic crisis. Nicolás Maduro, who succeeded Chávez in 2013, not only entrenched the failed economic policies but also responded to various crises by establishing institutions that further undermined democracy. Corrales analyzes the lingering crisis in Venezuela by comparing it to twenty cases in Latin America where presidents were forced out of office. Regardless of how the current situation ends in Venezuela, Corrales' book illuminates the depressing cycle in which semi-authoritarian regimes become increasingly autocratic in response to crises, only to cause new crises that lead to even greater authoritarianism. The book highlights the need for democratic institutions and governance to be strengthened in order to prevent further backsliding and ensure the long-term success of any country.

Weight: 528g
Dimension: 235 x 160 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815740070