The Book
In praise of Blogging the Revolution
“Caracas Chronicles has been an indispensable source of lucidity and perspective in these turbulent times in Venezuela. Toro and Nagel have been right on target, without pretending to be ludicrously impartial; they have been able to rise above polarization, trying hard to make sense of an often implausible reality. Blogging the Revolution shows them at their best. If you are not already a fan, you will become one.”
- Francisco J. Monaldi, RFK Visiting Professor at Harvard Kennedy School and Director, Center on Energy at IESA in Caracas.Recent Comments
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Category Archives: History
Joaquín Crespo is missing
The family mausoleum of 19th century General and President Joaquín Crespo (1841-1898), located in Caracas’s main public cemetery (Cementerio General del Sur) has been found empty. The remains of Crespo, his wife Jacinta (of “Misia” fame) and other family members are … Continue reading
Posted in History, In Other News
22 Comments
To recall is to live
On February 5th, 1992, Caldera sided with Chávez and Fidel Castro sided with Carlos Andrés Pérez. I’ve always been struck by what a grubby, squalid little Myth of Origin the putsch of February 4th makes. Next the glories of the Sierra … Continue reading
Annals of historical name-changing
The new Chavista governor of Mérida Alexis Ramírez has decided to roll up his sleeves and do some serious work, with the help of the State Legislature (controlled by the PSUV). Is this about solving the never-ending problem of trash … Continue reading
Posted in Chavismo, History, In Other News
16 Comments
Cubagua is on its own
The small island of Cubagua (part of Nueva Esparta State) was the location of Nueva Cádiz, the first Spanish settlement in Venezuela and South America. After running out of pearl oysters (the main source of local income, and the reason … Continue reading
Posted in History, In Other News
7 Comments
Savage Discourse Redux
Juan’s latest is as good an excuse as any to repost my partial translation of J.M. Briceño Guerrero’s 1979 screed El Discurso Salvaje. It’s not an easy read, and certainly not for everybody. But it’s essential. If you put in the … Continue reading
Posted in History, Venezuelan Culture, Way Back (Older Posts)
Tagged J.M. Briceño Guerrero, Savage Discourse
23 Comments
Tiempos de Dictadura: A great Venezuelan documentary
Here’s another thing you almost never see: a Venezuelan documentary in the local cinema. It’s rare to find them in theaters for a reason, you’d have to be mad to pay money to see the average Venezuelan documentary. But now … Continue reading
Posted in History, In Other News, Venezuelan Culture
23 Comments
The mausoleum still awaits its opening
The day after Bolivar’s new 3D face was revealed to the public, Hugo Chavez was supposed to officially open the new mausoleum behind the National Pantheon, as a permanent place of rest for the Libertador’s remains. The Communication Minister Andres … Continue reading
Posted in History, In Other News, infrastructure
Bolivar’s face belongs to some French guy
Since its unveiling to the world, the new 3D version of Simon Bolivar’s face has equally benefited the Chaverment’s media machinery and average Venezuelan buhoneros. Days ago, a new controversy about possible limitations to the uses of these image has … Continue reading
Posted in History, In Other News, Venezuelan Culture
El Caracazo nuestro de cada día
So I’m just now – far too late, I know – settling down to read Mirtha Riveros’s La Rebelión de los Náufragos, a blow-by-blow account the pivotal second CAP government of 1989-1993. It’s a cracking good read. I’ll be posting … Continue reading
On the Unbearable Lightness of Being Simón Bolívar
Here’s my ditty for the International Herald Tribune this week…(and no, I did not write that headline … ugh!)
Posted in History
9 Comments
Now we know who Bolívar really reincarnated as…
Not Chávez, not CAP, but… Ricardo Montalban. Now, that is uncanny. All S-Bol needs now is a midget next to him shouting “el galeón! el galeón!” [HT: hgdam.]
El Amo del Uncanny Valley
S-Bol’s 229th birthday won’t be an ordinary one. Right in the middle of the presidential campaign, the Chavernment will use it to push its electoral narrative while continue the adaptation of our history to its ideological purposes. First, a new … Continue reading
Posted in Chavismo, History, Politics, Presidential Election
61 Comments
The Opposite of Bolivarianism
On S-Bol’s not-so-happy 229th, I’d like to make a rather obvious but not-often-enough-stated point that came to mind reading AUP’s eye-opening Godos, Insurgentes y Visionarios: if Hugo Chávez has a legitimate claim to being the reincarnation of an independence era figure, … Continue reading
A history of Venezuelan democracy in 14 ballots
With a big hat tip to Guillermo Tell Aveledo and Alberto Mérida… The highlight for me?
Posted in History, Presidential Election
32 Comments
Fun Mental Exercise of the Day
How would Venezuela be different if the constitution had allowed Jaime Lusinchi to be re-elected president in 1988? If instead of leaving a new administration without a penny in reserves, forcing a new team to own the arithmetically unavoidable, socially … Continue reading
