This story begins in the land we now call Venezuela. Long ago, when world maps were still incomplete, diverse tribes lived in this area. They fished, farmed, and lived by their own rules. Then, in 1498, a ship from Europe arrived. Christopher Columbus was on board. He saw wooden houses built on the seashore, resembling the Italian city of Venice, so he named it Venezuela, meaning "little Venice."
Then the story took a turn. Spain, a powerful European power, began to conquer this entire region. The Spaniards wanted gold, silver, and new lands. They imposed their rules. Local people were deprived of their land and forced to work. Many died from disease and violence. This period lasted for nearly three hundred years. Venezuela was merely a colony, where decisions were made far away in Europe.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, things began to change. Talk of independence began throughout Latin America. People in Venezuela were also tired of Spanish rule. At this time, a name emerged: Simón Bolívar. He was a fighter and leader who fought for independence. After a long struggle, Venezuela gained independence from Spain in 1821. Now an independent nation, but independence did not bring stability. Power struggles began in the new country, with military generals and leaders clashing with each other.
Until the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Venezuela was a poor country, dependent on agriculture and small businesses. Then, suddenly, something was discovered underground that changed its fortunes. In the 1910s and 1920s, large reserves of oil were discovered. This was a time when machinery, cars, and factories were rapidly expanding globally, and the demand for oil was high. Venezuela quickly became one of the world's largest oil-producing countries.
Oil brought money, but not equality. The bulk of the oil revenue remained concentrated in the hands of a select few. Foreign companies extracted oil here and took the profits back to their countries. At the same time, the role of the United States gradually began to grow. American companies became interested in Venezuelan oil. This was not a sudden decision. At that time, the US constantly needed oil for its factories, military, and economy. Venezuela was nearby and rich in oil.
Until the mid-20th century, Venezuela experienced periods of dictatorship and weak democracy. Military rulers came to power, and elected governments came to power. But oil always remained at the center of politics. In the 1970s, Venezuela nationalized its oil industry. This meant that control of oil was taken back from foreign companies and given to the government. This benefited the country for a while. Spending on education, health, and cities increased.
Then, in the 1980s and 1990s, oil prices fell. Government funds began to dwindle. Debt increased, inflation increased, and the gap between rich and poor widened. Amidst this discontent, a former military leader, Hugo Chavez, emerged. He won the 1998 election and became president. He promised that oil revenues would go directly to the poor. He launched programs for schools, hospitals, and affordable food.
During Chavez's tenure, Venezuela changed its policies. It attempted to reduce its dependence on the United States and foster relationships with other countries. The United States did not like this change, as for decades Venezuela's oil and politics had been intertwined with American interests. Relations between the two countries became strained, leading to accusations, counter-accusations, and heated exchanges.
After Hugo Chavez's death in 2013, Nicolas Maduro became president. At the same time, oil prices plummeted again. Venezuela's economy, already heavily dependent on oil, was severely impacted. The United States and several other countries imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela. These sanctions impacted the country's general population. Food and drink became more expensive, and medicines became scarce.
The story even takes us back to Venezuela's past, to the point where its relationship with the United States turned into open confrontation. This wasn't a one-day decision, but rather the culmination of centuries of politics, resources, and power.
Read more : - Rulership and Responsibility: Lessons from the Owl and the Swan
.jpeg)
0 Comments