Venezuela is undergoing a historic upheaval following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces on Jan. 3. The move ends more than a decade of authoritarian rule and raises urgent questions about the country’s political future, regional stability and humanitarian emergency. Rice University experts available to provide insight on the evolving situation.
Francisco Monaldi — Energy and economic policy
Title: Fellow in Latin American energy policy; director of Latin America Energy Program at Rice’s Baker Institute
Expertise: Energy economics, Venezuelan oil sector, resource‑dependent economies, Latin American political economy, policy analysis, including:
- The role of Venezuela’s oil industry in its economic collapse and geopolitical tensions.
- International oil markets, sanctions and how energy policy shapes Venezuelan state capacity.
- Assessment of U.S. strategic actions affecting oil exports and resource revenue.
Mark Jones — Latin American and U.S. politics and government
Title: professor of political science; Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies; co-director of Baker Institute Presidential Elections Program
Expertise: Latin American economics, politics and society, including:
- Venezuela’s political crisis, election legitimacy, democratic erosion, and institutional breakdown.
- Broader Latin American political dynamics, governance and comparative transition issues.
- Implications for the Venezuelan energy sector and oil exports.
- Potential political risks and rewards for the Trump Administration.
- Impact of international interventions and post‑crisis political realignment.
Luis Duno‑Gottberg — Culture, identity and political violence
Title: Lee Hage Jamail Professor of Latin American Studies
Expertise: Latin American and Caribbean culture, political violence, race and ethnicity, cultural representation, and politics, including:
- Social and cultural dimensions of Venezuelan politics and the lived experience of crisis.
- The intersection of political violence, cultural narratives and public mobilization.
- Broad contextualization of Venezuelan society within Latin American historical and cultural frameworks.
To schedule an interview, contact Marcy de Luna, senior national media relations specialist, at marcy.deluna@rice.edu, Avery Franklin, media relations specialist, at AveryRF@rice.edu, Kat Cosley Trigg at Kat.Cosley.Trigg@rice.edu, and Brandi Smith at brandi.smith@rice.edu.