Jan 21, 1958-1958
Venezuela
Venezuelan Anti-Jimenez Strike
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ACTIVISTS/ACT.GROUPS/DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUP
Acción Democrática, Junta Patriotica
TARGET
Government
WIDELY HELD BELIEF
Dictatorial govts should be removed and democracy restored.
CASE NARRATIVE
Issue and Opponent: Jiménez’s rule consisted of corruption and repression, and he often banned or jailed opposition groups or figures. Venezuela was in an economic recession in 1957, which exacerbated issues further. Jiménez regularly participated in election fraud to ensure the survival of his power. Protests began to erupt.
Dilemma Action: The Patriotic Junta joined forces with Democratic Action to call for a general strike on January 21. Businesses closed, and the following day, a naval unit rebelled.
Outcomes: Jiménez attempted to negotiate with the rebellious naval units, but they refused to compromise. He fled to the Dominican Republic on January 23, leaving a Provisional Government Junta to be established. The three main parties in Venezuela signed the Puntofijo pact ensuring the maintenance of democratic institutions and equitable sharing of power. However, the pact ultimately led to exclusionary politics and corruption.
PRIMARY STRUGGLE/GOAL
NONVIOLENT TACTICS USED
DA TACTICS USED
General strike
CASE NARRATIVE WRITER
SUCCESS METRICS
10 / 12
(CONC) Concessions were made
(EREP) Dilemma action got replicated by other movements
(MC) Media Coverage
(MSYMP) Media coverage was sympathetic to the activists
(OR) Opponent response
(PS) Dilemma action built sympathy with the public
(PUN) Punishment favored the activists
(REFR) Dilemma action reframed the narrative of the opponent
(RF) Dilemma action reduced fear and/or apathy among the activists
(SA) Dilemma action appealed to a broad segment of the public
PART OF A LARGER CAMPAIGN
3 / 3
Activist group continued working together after the action
Encouraged more participants to join the movement
Internally replicated by the same movement
RESOURCES
Project documentation
Dilemma Actions Coding Guidebook
Case study documentation
Dilemma_Actions_Analysis_Dataset
SOURCES
Acreneaux, William. 1969. “The Venezuelan Experience: 1958 and the Patriotic Junta,” Louisiana State University. Retrieved July 20, 2023. (https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2631&context=gradschool_disstheses).
https://choosedemocracy.us/case-study-venezuela-january0958/#.YDO-zxNKjoB. Accessed April 15, 2022.
Zunes, Stephen. 2017. “Civil Resistance Against Coups: A Comparative and Historical Perspective,” International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. Retrieved July 20, 2023. (https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/civil-resistance-against-coups/).
Cooke, Alistair. 1958. “Widespread rioting in Venezuela,” The Guardian, January 23. Retrieved July 20, 2023. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/1958/jan/23/venezuela).
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