Invitation to discussion on

Post-Chávez Venezuela: New Directions under the Presidency of Nicolás Maduro?

Saturday, May 31, 05:00pm - 06:50pm in Room 1.124

John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The City University of New York

Abstract: In many ways, the challenges faced by Hugo Chávez’s successor Nicolás Maduro are a continuation of those dating back to 1998. Nevertheless, the economic crisis caused by shortages and currency speculation is more intense than during the Chávez presidency. The Maduro government’s reaction both at the level of discourse and specific actions is also distinct in some ways. The panel will attempt to determine what elements are relatively new. It will discuss the government’s activist role against business and political groups responsible for acute shortages, sharp price increases often far above that set by the government, currency speculation and refusal of the opposition to recognize the government’s legitimacy. The panel will also analyze the reaction of the radical current of the Chavista movement and many in the rank and file who fear that Maduro’s overtures to the opposition signal a softening of government positions and possible concessions to powerful interests. The panel will also examine Maduro’s record in combating corruption. In addition, the panel will discuss developments over the last year on the social front, specifically the amalgamation of community councils into communes and the attempts to promote worker participation in the decision making of state companies. Finally, the experiences of Chavista rule, and specifically over the last year, will be examined for what they tell us about the nature of the state in the democratic transition to socialism.

Clara Irazabal -- Columbia University, Steve Ellner -- Universidad de Oriente (Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela), Dario Azzellini -- Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria , George Ciccariello-Maher -- Drexel University, Naomi Schiller -- Temple University, Arnold August

Left Forum is the largest annual conference of the broad Left in the United States. Each spring thousands of conference participants come together to discuss pressing local, national and global issues; to better understand commonalities and differences, and alternatives to current predicaments; or to share ideas to help build social movements to transform the world.

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Speakers include Harry Belafonte, Angela Davis, Cornel West, and over 1,000 more.

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Link to the video: http://vimeo.com/99197442