Venezuela
Venezuela is in the midst of an unprecedented social and humanitarian collapse that has led to food insecurity, the second largest migration crisis in the world, and regional instability. Many experts now believe that the path to re-democratization and stability involves a lengthy negotiation process leading to free and fair presidential elections and the rebuilding of democratic institutions. Since 2018, USIP has worked to generate the conditions for a peaceful negotiated political settlement in Venezuela by enhancing engagement and supporting moderate civil society actors, especially women, who will play an essential role in a successful negotiation process.
Learn more in USIP’s fact sheets on our work in Venezuela, available in English and Spanish.
Featured Research & Analysis
Venezuelans' Voting Dilemma: Participate or Abstain?
When it comes to Venezuela, all eyes of late have been focused on the Trump administration’s deliberations over sustaining or selectively lifting sanctions. The decision will have a major impact on Venezuela’s ability to produce and sell oil. Beyond that, the administration’s moves on sanctions will serve as a key signal of its Venezuela policy and whether Washington will return to a policy of maximum pressure or take a more accommodating approach.
El Arte de un Acuerdo para Venezuela
A medida que la crisis venezolana se prolonga y se perfila otro año frustrante de esperanzas frustradas y hambre, surge la pregunta de si existe un enfoque más efectivo. El país lleva 20 años estancado mientras los regímenes de Chávez y luego de Maduro han intentado aferrarse al poder frente a una oposición que ha buscado desplazarlos, en su mayoría —aunque no siempre— por medios pacíficos.
The Art of a Deal for Venezuela
As the Venezuelan crisis grinds on into what is expected to be another frustrating year of dashed hopes and empty bellies, the question of whether there is another approach that would be more effective looms. The country has been stuck for 20 years as the Chavez and subsequent Maduro regimes struggled to hold on to power against an opposition that has sought to displace them, largely — but not always — through peaceful means.
Current Projects
Religious and Psychosocial Support for Displaced Trauma Survivors
Since spring 2021, USIP has been identifying best practices in psychosocial support to better facilitate collaboration and cooperation between religious actors and mental health professionals who provide services to conflict-affected communities, including trauma-affected displaced persons. This thematic area of work focused initially on Latin America as a pilot region and has since expanded to the Asia and European contexts — offering practical and evidence-based recommendations to relevant stakeholders.
Religion and Nonviolent Action
Since 2020, USIP’s programs on religion and inclusive societies and nonviolent action have been conducting research to better understand the role of religion in nonviolent action campaigns. Many of the most prominent activists and nonviolent movements in history have drawn on religion as they worked to build peace and advance justice. Historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi often come to mind. But religious leaders, beliefs, symbols and practices have featured just as prominently in more recent nonviolent campaigns, including the Arab Uprisings, the Spring Revolution in Myanmar and Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement.