CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan security forces and demonstrators faced off in streets blocked by burning barricades in several cities on Thursday in an escalation of protests against President Nicolas

Seth Dixon‘s insight:

As the protests and political violence in Venezuela escalate, it is important to understand the economic roots of the widespread discontent within this South American country.   As prominent pop culture figures are among the fatalities and the wounded, outrage grows.  Last month, the government overhauled its currency system that ignores many of the real problems of many Venezuelans; food is increasingly hard to come and that desperation feeds into more criminal behavior and social unrest. Many students have taken to the streets to protest the deteriorating economic situation, the government’s economic policies and the social conditions.

Tags: Venezuela, South America, political.

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