Key Facts
- ✓ The decline of Venezuela's political landscape was publicly signaled by Hugo Chávez's announcement of his illness in 2011.
- ✓ Chávez's final public address in December included a recommendation for Nicolás Maduro to succeed him should he be incapacitated.
- ✓ A collection of new books published between 2020 and 2025 offers diverse perspectives on Venezuela's political and social unraveling.
- ✓ The literary works include chronicles, reportages, and essays by both Venezuelan and international journalists.
- ✓ These publications collectively explore the complex paradox of a nation's collapse despite its significant natural resources.
The Unraveling of a Nation
The end of an era began not with a bang, but with a whispered medical diagnosis. In 2011, Hugo Chávez announced his illness to a nation, using the vague terms "tumor abscessed" and "cancerous cells" to describe his condition. By January, he declared himself cured and ready to campaign for a fourth presidential term, a victory he would achieve. Yet, a profound sense of finality lingered in the air.
The turning point arrived on the evening of December 8th. Chávez admitted the cancer's return, announced a trip to Cuba for another operation, and delivered a startling instruction: if he were incapacitated, Venezuelans should elect Nicolás Maduro as his successor. This moment marked the beginning of the end for the Bolivarian Revolution as it was known, setting the stage for a period of profound national transformation.
A Literary Reckoning
In the years since, a wave of chronicles, reportages, and essays has emerged to dissect this complex historical period. Authored by both Venezuelan and international journalists, these works collectively chronicle the nation's decomposition and its struggle to become a prosperous democracy. They move beyond daily headlines to offer deeper, more nuanced narratives.
The recent publication of several key titles signals a growing need to understand the paradox of Venezuela's collapse. These books provide a multi-faceted lens through which to view the country's trajectory, from political analysis to personal memoirs of life within the crisis.
- Carlos Lizarralde Dahbar's La gran Venezuela (2025)
- William Neuman's Todo se puede poner peor (2023)
- Carol Prunhuber's Sangre y asfalto (2020)
- Antonio Muñoz Molina's prologue to La vida interrumpida (2025)
"Crónicas, reportajes y ensayos escritos por periodistas venezolanos o de otros países han contado desde múltiples ángulos el proceso de descomposición del país y la imposibilidad de convertirse en una democracia próspera."
— Source Summary
Voices from the Crisis
The literary output is diverse in both form and perspective. Carlos Lizarralde Dahbar offers a sweeping historical analysis in La gran Venezuela: La larga historia de cómo se desmoronó todo (2025), tracing the long-term causes of the nation's decline. In contrast, José Natanson provides a focused essayistic examination in Venezuela. La descomposición (2025), dissecting the political and social decay.
Other works take a more personal or journalistic approach. Pedro Plaza Salvati returns to Caracas in La vida interrumpida: crónicas de un regreso a Caracas (2025), while Rafael Osío Cabrices reflects on the past in Venezuela. Memorias de un futuro perdido (2024). The collection is rounded out by William Neuman's Todo se puede poner peor. Crónicas desde la crisis venezolana (2023) and Carol Prunhuber's immersive Sangre y asfalto: 135 días en las calles de Venezuela (2020).
A Multi-Faceted Portrait
Together, these publications paint a comprehensive picture of a nation in transition. They explore the paradox of collapse—a country rich in resources yet grappling with profound economic and social challenges. The authors, ranging from seasoned analysts to on-the-ground reporters, document the lived experience of this period.
Crónicas, reportajes y ensayos escritos por periodistas venezolanos o de otros países han contado desde múltiples ángulos el proceso de descomposición del país y la imposibilidad de convertirse en una democracia próspera.
The works span a critical timeline, from the early days of the crisis in 2020 to the most recent analyses in 2025. This body of literature serves as an essential archive, capturing the voices and stories of a country navigating a pivotal moment in its history.
Understanding Through Literature
The surge in published works about Venezuela's recent history underscores a global interest in understanding the forces that shaped the nation's trajectory. These books are more than just historical records; they are tools for analysis, offering readers a chance to engage with the complexities of the Venezuelan paradox.
As the country continues to evolve, this literary output provides a crucial foundation for future discourse. By examining the past through these diverse lenses, we gain a clearer, more humanized understanding of the events that have defined Venezuela's recent past and present.
