Current Controversies

This new feature includes two or more short articles which deal with contradictory positions. This issue presents Maria Puerta Riera on imposing sanctions in Venezuela and Joanna Santa Barbara on the hidden carbon costs of owning a new electric vehicle.

Venezuelans have been enduring a humanitarian disaster for several years. Declining oil prices have worsened the already critical economy. This is just one of numerous adversities, the worst of which is political polarization and the fracture of the country’s social fabric. Divisiveness has accompanied the Venezuelan diaspora, one of the most serious migrant crises in the world.

Venezuelans engage in debates about foreign elections. This includes those with dual citizenship as well as those with little political influence in those countries. Such debates add to the tensions among the Venezuelans by adding Colombian and American politics to their own confrontations.

Trump’s sanctions program against Venezuela is strongly supported by a majority (81%) of Venezuelans living in Florida. However, recent polls show a different picture back in Venezuela, where the support is falling due to its lack of effectiveness. Most people (64%) there do not think sanctions will provoke a change in government. The other side hopes sanctions will deliver the much-needed path to democracy. In Venezuela, polls show 74% respondents opposing sanctions. But the political leadership in the Opposition is behind the sanctions program and, with no signs from the Biden administration of a rollback, circumstances are not conducive to dialogue within the Opposition.

This toxic environment has severe consequences for rebuilding Vene - zuela politically. Also, in the bitter US election, a majority of Venezuelans sided with the former president, only to find themselves involved in sharing a myriad of falsehoods about the election and the events of January 6. This poisons a fragile community that is trying to fit into a challenging political system.

This community is hopeless now, desperately needing a political solution. The political problems of other countries shouldn’t be a distraction for Venezuelans who must create their own democratic transition.