The Colectivos’ Role in the Struggle for Power in Post-Maduro Venezuela

Since the January 3 arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas, the question on everyone’s mind is: What happens next in Venezuela? Maduro played a key role in shaping the system of corruption, patronage, and criminality that linked various criminal groups with the state. This system transformed Venezuela into a hybrid state, where state actors and armed groups worked in tandem to maintain social control and capture criminal rents. Among these groups are the colectivos, paramilitary-style organizations that have been employed since the era of President Hugo Chávez to defend and enforce the government’s interests — often through threats and violence.The Colectivos’ Role in the Struggle for Power in Post-Maduro Venezuela | Written by the Venezuela Investigative Unit and read by Daniel Reyes.Visit insightcrime.org for more information.