The Real Obstacle to Venezuela’s Recovery
Venezuela's inability to manage the aftermath of recent deadly earthquakes is presented as evidence of a state that has lost its governing capacity due to the exodus of its professional class. The article argues that decades of mismanagement and political alienation have left the country unable to maintain critical infrastructure.
Why it matters
It illustrates the long-term consequences of institutional decay and brain drain on a nation's ability to respond to natural disasters.
A state that spent decades alienating its professional class has lost the capacity to govern.
Miguel Zambrano / AFP / Getty September 16, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save D ays after two deadly earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, killing at least 6,000 people and injuring tens of thousands more, the Venezuelan Seismological Research Foundation, known as Funvisis, made an unusual public plea : Could whoever had taken one of its GPS sensors please give it back?
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