American Prestige E241 - Venezuela, Latin America, and the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy w/ Greg Grandin
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Jan 6, 2026 
Greg Grandin, a Yale historian and expert on U.S. empire, dives into the complexities of the U.S. operation in Venezuela. He discusses how the U.S. opted for coercion over governance, leaving Maduro in power while the state remains intact. The role of oil in U.S. interventions is scrutinized, along with the Trump administration's internal divisions. Grandin explores the erosion of regional resistance, the decline of the pink tide, and the implications of a shifting global order—raising questions about Latin America's autonomy amidst U.S. hegemony.
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Coercion Instead Of Governance
- The U.S. chooses coercion over governance in Venezuela, threatening compliance without capacity to rebuild institutions.
- Greg Grandin compares this to past interventions like Aristide, showing preference for decapitation over nation-building.
Oil As Symbol And Constraint
- Oil functions as both material interest and ideological symbol in U.S. rhetoric about Venezuela.
- Grandin argues oil alone doesn't justify nation-building because firms balk at investing in Venezuela's degraded industry.
Latin America As A Regrouping Ground
- U.S. retrenchment from failed global bids often drives renewed focus on Latin America as a place to regroup politically.
- Grandin calls this cyclical turn 'the grandin corollary' linking foreign reorientation to domestic ideological rebuilding.
