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As the Venezuelan crisis continues into its fourth week, actors in the international community have struggled to define an appropriate response that takes into account the country鈥檚 deep polarization, Venezuela鈥檚 constitutional processes, and the potential for greater violence and unrest. 

To reflect on the role that international institutions and other nations of the Western Hemisphere could or might adopt, the Latin American Program commissioned four short opinion pieces from regional experts who wrestle from distinct angles with the core question of how to play a constructive role in overcoming and resolving tensions in Venezuela.

by Juan Gabriel Tokatlian
The on-going, very tense, extremely complex, and potentially destabilizing anti- and pro-government demonstrations in Venezuela constitute a real challenge in the Americas. The elected president of the most radical administration in the Western Hemisphere, Nicol谩s Maduro, is facing gargantuan difficulties, both socio-economic and political and mostly as a result of his own mistakes.  At the same time, the opposition forces, currently led by former mayor Leopoldo L贸pez, seem eager to exacerbate the situation even further, something which may eventually culminate in an unprecedented political meltdown.

by The Honorable Jos茅 Miguel Insulza
Today鈥檚 political crisis in Venezuela reveals profound divisions at the heart of Venezuelan society that can only be resolved by that country鈥檚 authorities, institutions, political forces, and citizens.  The path to a solution must be found through frank and open dialogue between the principal actors of the government and the opposition concerning the serious economic and political problems that afflict Venezuela.

by Philip French
As popular resistance to a repressive and corrupt regime continues to grow, it is important to remember many Venezuelans still support President Nicol谩s Maduro and/or his government. After all, it was corruption and a mostly poor and alienated population ignored by traditional elites that brought Hugo Ch谩vez to power 15 years ago.  This government, first under Ch谩vez and now Maduro, has grossly, perhaps criminally, squandered both an unprecedented political mandate and unprecedented oil income.

by Paulo Sotero
The contrast between the Brazilian Foreign Ministry鈥檚 criticism of the crackdown on protesters in Kiev and the cautious statement released as protests spread in Venezuela was highlighted in commentary published in the Brazilian media last week that was critical of Dilma Rousseff鈥檚 timid foreign policy, in contrast to the active diplomacy during the Lula administration.