Jacobin Radio Long Reads: Latin America’s State of Siege w/ Tony Wood
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Jan 17, 2026 Tony Wood, a Professor of Latin American history at the University of Colorado Boulder, shares insights on the recent US attack on Venezuela and its implications for the Latin American left. He discusses the regional rightward shift in politics and how left-wing governments relate to Maduro's regime. Wood highlights the potential risks for Colombia's Gustavo Petro and Cuba's fragile situation. He also evaluates how US policies reflect a revival of the Monroe Doctrine, posing challenges for regional anti-imperial movements amidst economic dependencies.
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Roots Of The Recent U.S. Move On Venezuela
- Tony Wood argues recent right-wing wins partly reflect long-term trends and opportunistic U.S. encouragement.
- He says Venezuela was a long-standing U.S. target likely to be attacked regardless of those regional wins.
No Unified Left Front On Venezuela
- Tony Wood says Latin American left governments vary widely in their relations with Maduro and Cuba.
- He notes many progressive governments oppose U.S. intervention rhetorically but weren't close to Maduro practically.
Migration Shapes Regional Responses
- Large Venezuelan migration shaped other governments' preferences for a more cooperative Caracas.
- Tony Wood says regional leaders might welcome a friendlier Venezuelan government to reduce migration pressures.
