Alejandro Velasco

Alejandro Velasco, an associate professor of history at NYU, sheds light on Venezuela's dramatic decline from a prosperous oil-rich nation to a site of humanitarian crisis. He explores the legacies of iconic leaders Simón Bolívar and Hugo Chávez, examining how Chávez used Bolívar's heritage to gain public support. Velasco discusses the cultural and political ramifications of their leadership styles and how historical events, including failed coups, have shaped Venezuela's tumultuous politics, ultimately leading to mass emigration and widespread poverty.