American Dependence

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Neocolonialism 

There’s an interesting juxtaposition to this since it refers to how nations in Latin America, such as Venezuela, depend on American policymakers to help with economic decline, poverty and help the government take control of the country after riots. Both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal depict Venezuela “in shambles,” which shows that without U.S. involvement, Venezuela will continue to be “in shambles.” This idea of Venezuela needing to be saved is understood through the lens of Said’s Orientalism and the idea that non-Western nations are “backward,” as seen in how both news sources describe Chavez to be “hostile,” “violent,” and “unstable,” justifying the U.S. involvement in Venezuela to progress the nation through its policy.

Exoticism 

The other side to American dependence is the U.S. depending on nations like Venezuela and the Gulf states in the Middle East for oil. Additionally, this concept of American dependence can is understood through Audre Lorde, as the “poor Venezuelans” are exoticized. The U.S. media frames Venezuelan citizens in a state of oppression by Chavez, and therefore, exoticize their welfare to justify U.S. involvement in the country.