Please join us on Friday, September 29 at 10:00am

at the SAIS Auditorium

Featuring

Margarita López Maya
Professor Emeritus, Centro de Estudios de Desarrollo, Universidad Central de Venezuela

Jennifer McCoy
Distinguished University Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University

Mariano de Alba
Venezuelan lawyer, international law and international affairs expert
Research Analyst and Contributor at Prodavinci.com

Moderated by

David Smilde
WOLA Senior Fellow
Charles A. and Leo M. Favrot Professor of Social Relations, Tulane University

With an introduction by

Tiffany Basciano
Associate Director and Professorial Lecturer in the
International Law and Organizations Program,
School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University

Friday, September 29, 2017
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Rome Auditorium, SAIS
1619 Massachusetts Avenue, NW 
Washington, DC 20036

The discussion will be conducted in English and will be livestreamed at www.wola.org. For more information, please contact Caroline Buhse at cbuhse@wola.org or (202) 797-2171. Space is limited. To RSVP, please click this link and complete the form to the right.

With the installation of a Constituent Assembly of dubious democratic origin but far-reaching power, the government of Nicolás Maduro has crossed an important threshold in its assault on Venezuela’s democratic institutions. The current configuration threatens to cement an authoritarian government and disempower Venezuelan citizens for years to come.

Amid an increasing crackdown on dissent and after clear evidence of fraud by the government in the July 30 election of Constituent Assembly representatives, a controversial decision to participate in regional elections has left the opposition divided and street mobilizations have lost steam.

The international community has responded with unprecedented rejection of the Maduro government. But while there have been some multilateral diplomatic achievements—for example the document signed by 12 countries of the region in Lima, and expressions of support for eventual dialogue—no clear initiative has come together. The United States has continued to act unilaterally, first with President Trump’s suggestions that military action is on the table and second with economic sanctions aimed at Venezuelan debt.

This discussion will focus on the new political configuration and potential directions of change. We hope you can join us for an in-depth look at what the future may hold for Venezuela’s crisis and the international response to it with a group of leading experts.