How Venezuela Got Here: Chávez, Maduro, and the Making of an Authoritarian State with Tony Frangie Mawad

In this episode of The Burn Bag, host A’ndre Gonawela is joined by Tony Frangie Mawad, a Venezuela-based journalist and political scientist, to unpack how Venezuela reached its current moment. Long before U.S. strikes and regime collapse, Venezuela’s trajectory was shaped by the rise of Hugo Chávez, the ideology of Chavismo, and the steady erosion of democratic institutions under both Chávez and his successor Nicolás Maduro.

Together, they trace how a resource-rich country descended into economic collapse and authoritarian rule — examining the role of oil, populism, repression, and policy choices that reshaped Venezuelan society over two decades. The conversation provides essential historical context for understanding why Venezuela’s political system proved so resilient, and why recent events did not emerge in a vacuum.

This is Part One of A'ndre's two-part conversation with Tony on Venezuela. Part Two will examine the U.S. strikes, the arrest of Maduro, and what this turning point means for U.S.–Venezuela relations and the country’s future.