Justice Briefings: Institutions and the Deterioration of Democracy: Comparative Analysis Between the Case of Venezuela and the Current International Reality

Institutions and the Deterioration of Democracy: Comparative Analysis Between the Case of Venezuela and the Current International Reality

Join us for our bi-annual Social Justice and Human Rights (SJHR) Justice Briefings, featuring a discussion on the deterioration of democracy and institutions, focusing on Venezuela's case and its ongoing challenges. 

Drawing comparisons to current international realities, speaker Manuel Virgüez will explore how institutional failures impact society and the importance of global solidarity in restoring democratic values. Virgüez, a dedicated Venezuelan lawyer and human rights advocate, leads the Movimiento Vinotinto organization, fighting for justice and civic engagement in Venezuela. As a founding figure in social entrepreneurship, he empowers citizens and raises awareness to protect their rights in the face of repression.

This conversation will be moderated by Dr. Malay Firoz, assistant professor of anthropology at Arizona State University, whose work bridges humanitarianism, ethics, political theory and postcolonial thought. His research offers a critical lens on aid systems for refugees in the Middle East, particularly how “resilience-based” approaches shape refugee rights and humanitarian ethics. Dr. Firoz also examines the evolving dynamics of war, technology and racialized violence.