JHU Bloomberg Center, 9th Floor
555 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest Room 940 Washington, DC 20001
For over two decades, Venezuela’s regime has dismantled democracy through systematic human rights violations, the erosion of local government autonomy, and the persecution of dozens of mayors. Nicolás Maduro’s crackdown targeted David Smolansky, former mayor of El Hatillo, for his efforts to strengthen local institutions, combat crime, and tackle corruption in one of the world’s most violent and corrupt nations. This discussion will examine how local governments can resist authoritarianism and what Venezuela’s experience reveals about the broader struggle for democracy. With SNF Agora Visiting Fellow and Dissident in Residence David Smolansky and moderated by SNF Agora Assistant Director of Public Programs Mary Bruce.
This is an in-person event only. Livestreaming will not be available.
David Smolansky served as the Mayor of El Hatillo City in Caracas, Venezuela. His tenure as Mayor gained national and international recognition for its transparency and notable reduction in kidnappings, despite operating in one of the world’s most violent capitals. His commitment to addressing human rights violations and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela led him to play a pivotal role in non-violent protests against Maduro’s dictatorship. As a result of defending democratic values while serving in local government, he faced arbitrary arrest warrants, removal from his Mayoral role, illegal disqualification for public service, banned from voting, and ultimately, forced into exile.
After fleeing Venezuela, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) appointed Smolansky as the special envoy to address the Venezuelan migration and refugee crisis, the largest in the world. He authored 15 reports and conducted over 20 official visits to 11 countries in the Americas, advocating for policies to protect and integrate Venezuelan migrants and refugees who have fled Maduro’s regime.
Mary Bruce is the Assistant Director of Public Programs at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, a multi-disciplinary academic and public forum dedicated to strengthening global democracy by improving and expanding civic engagement and inclusive dialogue, and by supporting inquiry that leads to real-world change. As assistant director of the SNF Agora Institute, Mary co-creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue and debate that inspire more active participation in democratic life. Throughout her career, she has worked to expand civic participation, including efforts of George HW Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. A former adjunct professor at UVA’s Batten School of Leadership, Mary holds a BA in Poverty Studies from UVA and an MPA from Princeton University. She served in both the Peace Corps (Morocco) and AmeriCorps (Washington, DC). Mary’s work reflects her belief that democracy works better for everyone by combining thoughtful scholarship with practical action.