The Paradox of Violence in Venezuela
Revolution, Crime, and Policing During Chavismo
21,000+ Reviews
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Description
Crime and violence soared in twenty-first-century Venezuela even as poverty and inequality decreased, contradicting the conventional wisdom that these are the underlying causes of violence. The Paradox of Violence in Venezuela explains the rise of violence under both Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro--leftist presidents who made considerable investment in social programs and political inclusion. Contributors argue that violence arose not from the frustration of inequality, or the needs created by poverty, but rather from the interrelated factors of a particular type of revolutionary governance, extraordinary oil revenues, a reliance on militarized policing, and the persistence of concentrated disadvantage. These factors led to dramatic but unequal economic growth, massive institutional and social change, and dysfunctional criminal justice policies that destabilized illicit markets and social networks, leading to an increase in violent conflict resolution. The Paradox of Violence in Venezuela reorients thinking about violence and its relationship to poverty, inequality, and the state.
Product Details
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh Press |
| Publish Date | May 30, 2023 |
| Pages | 312 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Hardback |
| EAN/UPC | 9780822947127 |
| Dimensions | 9.1 X 6.0 X 1.3 inches | 1.2 pounds |
BISAC Categories: History
Reviews
The Paradox of Violence in Venezuela emerges as an indispensable contribution to our understanding of the multilevel drivers of one dimension of Venezuela's recent turmoil, its strikingly high rates of violence. Editors David Smilde, Verónica Zubillaga and Rebecca Hanson--who are among the most insightful and knowledgeable analysts of contemporary Venezuela--have done a remarkable job bringing together a multi-disciplinary set of scholars that bring to bear a diverse array of perspectives and methodological tools to elucidate two key, inter-related puzzles.-- "ReVista, Harvard Review of Latin America"
A highly valuable scholarly contribution that should be on any reading list for academic and policy-making audiences due to its encompassing conceptual framework, multidimensional approaches, and deeply rich case analysis.-- "Latin American Politics and Society"
An impressively cohesive volume that draws on a diverse range of methodologies and disciplinary research agendas to paint a comprehensive picture.-- "Bulletin of Latin American Research"
Besides enriching our understanding of the relationship among organized criminal groups, the Venezuelan state, and armed violence, this timely volume promises critical comparative leverage for understanding these relationships throughout the region. To take a headline example, Venezuela eclipsed Brazil in police killings of civilians in 2016, yet criminal organizations seem to have grown more organized over time. Hardline but ultimately counterproductive repression can, it would seem, appeal to many different sorts of regimes. This is both an impeccable country case study and a thoughtfully framed set of interventions designed to advance larger cross-regional and disciplinary research agendas.--Benjamin Lessing, University of Chicago
This book defies basic assumptions about crime: while Venezuela under Chavez reduced poverty and inequality and promoted economic growth, criminality skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. This collection of brilliant studies written by frontline scholars provides responses to this riddle from various perspectives and methods, and subtly unfolds the many ways criminal violence explodes. This is a seminal work for social studies that transcends Venezuela. It provides lessons for understanding the multifaceted challenges Latin American nations must face to address public safety and social cohesion.--Marcelo Bergman, National University of Tres de Febrero
A highly valuable scholarly contribution that should be on any reading list for academic and policy-making audiences due to its encompassing conceptual framework, multidimensional approaches, and deeply rich case analysis.-- "Latin American Politics and Society"
An impressively cohesive volume that draws on a diverse range of methodologies and disciplinary research agendas to paint a comprehensive picture.-- "Bulletin of Latin American Research"
Besides enriching our understanding of the relationship among organized criminal groups, the Venezuelan state, and armed violence, this timely volume promises critical comparative leverage for understanding these relationships throughout the region. To take a headline example, Venezuela eclipsed Brazil in police killings of civilians in 2016, yet criminal organizations seem to have grown more organized over time. Hardline but ultimately counterproductive repression can, it would seem, appeal to many different sorts of regimes. This is both an impeccable country case study and a thoughtfully framed set of interventions designed to advance larger cross-regional and disciplinary research agendas.--Benjamin Lessing, University of Chicago
This book defies basic assumptions about crime: while Venezuela under Chavez reduced poverty and inequality and promoted economic growth, criminality skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. This collection of brilliant studies written by frontline scholars provides responses to this riddle from various perspectives and methods, and subtly unfolds the many ways criminal violence explodes. This is a seminal work for social studies that transcends Venezuela. It provides lessons for understanding the multifaceted challenges Latin American nations must face to address public safety and social cohesion.--Marcelo Bergman, National University of Tres de Febrero
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