The politics of polarisation in Venezuela
Autocracy, populism and the collapse of the petrostate
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24236564 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Aleksei Pobedonostsev (0000-0002-0255-0343, School of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, HSE University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-20 |
| Publication date | 2026-10-20 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Third World Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0143-6597 • E-ISSN: 1360-2241 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/01436597.2026.2740735 |
| OpenAlex | W7223071430 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 36 |
Venezuela is widely regarded as one of the most politically divided nations in Latin America. However, the mechanisms through which political polarisation facilitated the emergence of authoritarian rule under Hugo Chávez and later Nicolás Maduro remain insufficiently specified. This article develops an account of polarisation-driven autocratisation in Venezuela and examines how elite and mass polarisation contributed to regime transformation. It argues that the erosion of state capacity was a pivotal mechanism through which elite polarisation empowered Chávez to seize power. Elite polarisation incentivised Chávez to weaken state institutions, thereby reducing the political influence of Venezuela’s old ruling elites. Rather than relying on formal state institutions, the Bolivarian regime depended on informal practices and an extensive ‘parallel state’, which allowed it to consolidate power. Furthermore, the regime employed mass polarisation, triggered by elite polarisation, as a deliberate strategy for political survival. This enabled Chávez to mobilise his core supporters and win elections. The paper focuses on how elite polarisation degraded Venezuelan state capacity and how mass polarisation strengthened support for the Chavistas. Together, these processes facilitated the consolidation of Chávez’s regime.
autocratization · Bolivarian Revolution · Hugo Chávez · Nicolás Maduro · parallel state · petrostates · political polarization · Populism · regime transformation · state capacity · Venezuela · Political Conflict and Governance · Political Dynamics in Latin America · Politics and Society in Latin America
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Leviathan’s Latent Dimensions
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Rethinking Political Polarization
The autonomous power of the state
| Highly cited | No |
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