How Venezuela Defended Its Democratic Backsliding Before the International Community

What is it about?

This article examines how the Venezuelan government defended the gradual transformation of the country's political system from democracy to authoritarianism in an international forum. Building on the concept of international legitimation strategies, we qualitatively analyse Venezuelan government speeches at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) between 1999 and 2023. We identify four phases of legitimation: popular democratic mandate, revolutionary transformation, sovereignty and international law and imperial victimhood. In the broader historical context, these shifts illustrate how the Venezuelan government adapted its international discourse as its authoritarian practises deepened, deploying UNGA diplomacy to deflect criticism.

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Why is it important?

This research is important because authoritarian governments do not rely only on repression at home; they also seek legitimacy abroad. By studying Venezuela’s discourse at the United Nations over more than two decades, the article helps explain how governments justify democratic erosion and respond to international criticism while consolidating power. Understanding these strategies is relevant not only for Venezuela, but also for analyzing democratic backsliding and authoritarian trends in other parts of the world.