Paper Tigers and Minotaurs: The Politics of Venezuela's Economic Reforms

Naím, Moisés

Book

Paper Tigers and Minotaurs: The Politics of Venezuela's Economic Reforms

Weakened public institutions, military reform, and public opinion in the face of rapid change have opened the door for corruption, inequitable distribution of burdens, and political instability in South America. Countries in the region are facing painful and sometimes dangerous reform.

By Moisés Naím

Published on Jan 1, 1993

Source: Washington

Based on Moisés Naím's experiences as Minister of Industry in rapidly changing Venezuela and as Executive Director at the World Bank, this book raises questions and explores problems crucial to political and economic reform. Dr. Naím grapples with entrenched interests bent on derailing reform, the corrosive effects of corruption, the inequitable distribution of burdens, political instability brought on by weakened public institutions, military reform, and public opinion in the face of rapid change. After the revolutionary political and economic changes of the 1980s and early 1990s, the countries of South America—and many other countries all over the world—are facing painful and sometimes dangerous reform. Dr. Naím's book tackles the subject of managing that reform.

Advance Praise

“This book is a timely and relevant contribution for rethinking both the content and the process of future reform attempts.”
—Miriam Kornblith, Universidad Central de Venezuela

“The story is well-told and the lessons valuable for those interested in under-standing, as well as making, economic policy."
—Robert Grosse, University of Miami

About the Author

Moisés Naím

Distinguished Fellow

Moisés Naím is a distinguished fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a best-selling author, and an internationally syndicated columnist.

Recent Work

Research
The World Reacts to Biden’s First 100 Days
- +10
  Rosa Balfour, Frances Z. Brown, Yasmine Farouk, …
Commentary
View From Latin America
- Moisés Naím

North America South America Trade

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Research
Crime, Violence, and the Reshaping of Politics in the Americas
Latin America is undergoing a political transformation driven as much by the perception of insecurity as by its reality.
Robert Muggah
Article
From Hormuz to the Maghreb: The Geopolitical Reach of a Gulf Crisis
Morocco and Algeria, each in its own way, are having to navigate the global economic fallout of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
Yasmine Zarhloule
Article
In the Middle East and North Africa, America and China Converge More Than They Diverge
Middle powers in the region will keep hedging between Washington and Beijing. It’s in the great powers’ interests to play along.
Amr Hamzawy, Kathryn Selfe
Paper
The Future of American Economic Power
The future of American economic power will be determined by the interplay between Trump’s ambitions and the global backlash against them, as well as economic developments outside the direct control of the government, such as advances in AI.
Peter Harrell
Commentary
Emissary
Trump Can Play Kingmaker in Latin America. He Can’t Build Lasting Influence.
In Colombia and elsewhere in the region, the United States is trying to shape election outcomes—but at what cost?
Oliver Stuenkel, Adrian Feinberg

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Research

Crime, Violence, and the Reshaping of Politics in the Americas

Latin America is undergoing a political transformation driven as much by the perception of insecurity as by its reality.

Robert Muggah

Article

From Hormuz to the Maghreb: The Geopolitical Reach of a Gulf Crisis

Morocco and Algeria, each in its own way, are having to navigate the global economic fallout of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

Yasmine Zarhloule

Photo of commercial ship anchored near the Strait of Hormuz.

Article

In the Middle East and North Africa, America and China Converge More Than They Diverge

Middle powers in the region will keep hedging between Washington and Beijing. It’s in the great powers’ interests to play along.

Amr Hamzawy, Kathryn Selfe

Container ship arriving in Savannah, Georgia

Paper

The Future of American Economic Power

The future of American economic power will be determined by the interplay between Trump’s ambitions and the global backlash against them, as well as economic developments outside the direct control of the government, such as advances in AI.

Peter Harrell

De la Espriella moving through a crowd and smiling

Commentary

Emissary

Trump Can Play Kingmaker in Latin America. He Can’t Build Lasting Influence.

In Colombia and elsewhere in the region, the United States is trying to shape election outcomes—but at what cost?

Oliver Stuenkel, Adrian Feinberg