Flashpoints in Focus: Venezuela After Maduro

Overview

Maduro’s extraordinary capture does not mark a reset for Venezuela; in many ways, it is continuity in Caracas. The United States is engaged in a complex game of “regime management,” not “regime change.” Venezuela’s trajectory will be shaped by fragmented political authority and complex authoritarian coalitions, economic uncertainty, and sustained external pressure, principally from the United States, but also from China and potentially from regional actors. Decisions made by all these actors in the early stages of this period will have lasting consequences for regional security and global markets.

This one-day executive education course equips participants with the tools to evaluate Venezuela’s post-Maduro landscape and anticipate what matters most for policy and business strategy. Drawing on CSIS research, the program moves beyond headlines to focus on plausible scenarios in the short-, medium-, and long-term, and their real-world implications.

Curriculum

This program provides a focused assessment of Venezuela after Maduro, examining how U.S. intervention, internal power dynamics, and external actors shape outcomes for governance, security, and the global economy.

Sample Agenda:

• The Situation in Venezuela
  • Assess the evolving political authority and stability of the ruling regime in Venezuela and implications for governance, rule of law, and legitimacy.
• What the Situation in Venezuela Means for U.S. and Global Security
  • Analyze the regional security landscape, including U.S. operational posture, military costs and trade-offs, and implications for Latin American stability.
• What the Situation in Venezuela Means for the U.S. and Global Economies
  • Examine Venezuela’s economic outlook, including oil flows, sanctions dynamics, and investment environments.
• Lunch Lecture: A Look at the Impacts on Energy and Oil
  • Explore the impacts of Venezuela’s uncertain future on the energy and oil industries with an invited expert lecturer.
• Applied Scenario Exercise
  • Through an interactive tabletop exercise, explore potential future outcomes for Venezuela and their implications on global power competition.

How to Register

The online application includes a short entry form, statement of interest, brief bio, and resume. Entries will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please note that spaces are limited and the course may fill before the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.