Venezuela's Crisis Nears the Tipping Point

With crucial legislative elections less than four months away, Venezuela is tilting toward a major social crisis. Endemic food shortages have plagued Venezuela for years, worsening with the decline of global oil prices in late 2014. Now they are the norm across the country. This has stoked public discontent and led to the isolated looting of food stores and supermarkets. The deterioration of law and order is likely to continue. Even if the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) loses its legislative majority in December elections, the government's inability to keep store shelves even minimally stocked will lead to further unrest. More…