Between instrumentalisation, depoliticisation, and legitimation of humanitarian action in Venezuela

The political scenario in Venezuela shapes these interactions in particular ways. The messages can include statements indicating that the government in power is not capable of responding to the needs of the people, the recognition that there is an ongoing socio-economic predicament in the country, or the need to involve actors in the implementation of public policy and in the delivery of goods and social services. A reading group discussion on humanitarian action in Latin America and my ongoing research on the topic in the region suggested the idea that declaring or neglecting a humanitarian crisis is a sensitive topic for Latin-American states. The humanitarian arena of Venezuela thus shows how authoritarian and conflict-affected scenarios in Latin America relate with humanitarian practices in particular ways as a result of the specificities of the region in terms of how humanitarian action is conceived and perceived, including the region’s history of interventionism and the legitimisation strategies of its countries.