How did Latin America s exceptional democracy become a nearly failed state Why would a leader firmly in control lead one of the planet s richest countries into a humanitarian crisis Conventional wisdom blames the madness of a populist leader who squandered an oil fortune In Venezuela s Collapse Carlos Lizarralde offers an alternative account that places race ethnicity and the struggle over resources at the center of the Hugo Chavez story The book chronicles 500 years of demographic and economic strands that came together in 1998 with the election of a dashing new President By following Chavismo s dismantling of the liberal state the ransacking of public enterprises and the appearance of a feudal world of violence hunger and disease Venezuela s Collapse offers a compelling argument about what happened in the country Venezuela s uncertain future will be determined for better or for worse by the fractured and conflicted past that fueled the Bolivarian Revolution Carlos Lizarralde s account will become a key road map in the years ahead Venezuela s Collapse The Long Story of How Things Fell Apart site_link post a commentThe book examines Venezuela s tragic implosion during Chavez s tenure intertwining the nation s intricate history with the devastating impact of his regime A particularly noteworthy aspect is its exploration of race and ethnicity as crucial factors in Venezuela s downfall shedding light on long neglected issues in the country s political and social fabric With great detail the author reveals how chavismo systematically dismantled Venezuela s institutions plunging the nation into its current state of ruin a striking parallel to its post independence struggles in the 19th century Through its narrative the book serves as a chilling reminder of the profound influence history wields over a nation s path 363 This book and Comandante are the two best books I ve read on Venezuela If you want to understand why Hugo Chavez came to power and why he was so popular read this book 363 363 Amazing book It s really gave me a new look about Venezuela s history Looking forward to the next one of this author 363 I enjoyed learning about my wife s Native country Though I had the advantage of my wife being able to fill in the blanks about Venezuela s historical leaders It still was a fascinating read If you want to learn about the history of this country I highly recommend reading this book 363