Can the Bolivarian experiment implement transitional justice in Venezuela?

Transitional justice in Latin America emerged in relation to accountability for human rights abuses at the period of transition to democracy from dictatorship. Venezuela was often considered an exception since it generally avoided the prolonged military dictatorships, which gripped the region during much of the Cold War. Under closer scrutiny though, Venezuela has had a history of violent politics but with little accountability. The Caracazo stands out as the worst case of repression, which became a politically symbolic event for President Hugo Chávez as it addresses both aspects of the Bolivarian Experiment: redressing inequality and implementing the rule of law. This paper looks at the advances and contradictions Venezuela has done in transitional justice during the Bolivarian experiment (1999– present). Transitional justice is relevant to the Bolivarian experiment because justice emerges as part of establishing a new rule of law by implementing state institutional reforms in the constitutional, judicial, police and prison systems.