Venezuela After Maduro: Democracy, Authoritarian Rebalancing, or Chaos

The U.S. military operation known as Operation Absolute Resolve, which resulted in the capture and removal of Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela, represents a watershed moment in hemispheric politics. The operation, characterized by precision targeting, limited duration, and the absence of a formal occupation, has nonetheless created a profound political rupture inside Venezuela and raised far-reaching questions about sovereignty, legitimacy, governance, and democratic reconstruction.

This event on January 7, 2026, convened scholars and practitioners to examine what comes after such a military intervention, providing an analysis of post-extraction scenarios, drawing on comparative experience, Venezuelan political dynamics, and theories of post-authoritarian and post-conflict transitions.

The discussion does not seek to justify or condemn the intervention itself. Rather, it aims to assess the range of plausible futures now confronting Venezuela and the conditions under which the current rupture could lead to authoritarian rebalancing, prolonged disorder, or democratic recovery.

SPEAKERS:

María Ignacia Curiel
Héctor Fuentes
Dorothy Kronick
Harold Trinkunas
Diego A. Zambrano

MODERATOR: Alberto Díaz-Cayeros

*This recording has been lightly edited to remove Zoom lags and technical issues present in the live presentation.