Venezuelan President-elect Edmundo González will discuss his country's struggle for democracy during an event on Thursday, Feb. 27, hosted by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute of Johns Hopkins University.
The conversation at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., will also feature democratic opposition leader María Corina Machado, who like González will join virtually, and moderator David Smolansky, an exiled Venezuelan political leader and current SNF Agora dissident in residence, who will be there in person.
"We are facing a dictatorship that has stayed in power through force, repression, and corruption," Smolansky says. "But this isn't just about one country—what happens in Venezuela sets a precedent for democracy worldwide."
The discussion titled "What Venezuela's Transition Means for Security and Democracy" begins at 6:30 p.m. EST; a Q+A session follows. Tickets are available through this Eventbrite link.
Venezuela's struggle for democracy has reached a critical juncture, with ripple effects extending far beyond its borders, according to Smolansky. In a recent conversation, he said last year's July 28 presidential election was a landmark for Venezuela's democratic movement. Despite the Maduro regime's attempts to suppress the results, the opposition not only won but also gathered clear evidence of their victory. Since then, the regime has responded with brutal repression, detaining over 2,000 political opponents and killing at least 28 people who have resisted their rule.
Beyond electoral suppression, Venezuela is also experiencing a humanitarian crisis, Smolansky says, describing how seven million people are struggling to eat three meals a day, making it the most severe humanitarian crisis in the region with 8 million Venezuelans displaced. Economic instability has fueled corruption and organized crime, with 15% of Venezuela's economy linked to illicit activities, including drug trafficking and black-market oil sales fueling instability across Latin America.
Venezuela's shifting alliances also have global implications: Smolansky says the country has become a hub for Iranian influence in the hemisphere, collaborating on military projects such as war drones. Growing ties to China and Russia further complicate the security landscape, raising regional and international stability concerns. "We need to take Venezuela more seriously on the international agenda," he says. "This isn't just about politics—it's about security."
The SNF Agora Institute and Johns Hopkins University have actively fostered discussions on democratic resilience and human rights. Through academic research, public events, and fellowships like Smolansky's, SNF Agora has provided scholars, activists, and policymakers a platform to engage with these critical issues. Smolansky acknowledged the impact of this work, noting, "Being a visiting fellow at SNF Agora has given me the opportunity to speak in classrooms, lead community workshops, and participate in discussions like this one. Institutions like Johns Hopkins play a crucial role in keeping these issues visible and ensuring that conversations about democracy are happening at the highest levels."
