Introduction
In the recent history of Latin America, two regimes have captured global attention not only for their policies of control and repression but also for the way they have institutionalized cynicism in the management of power. In Venezuela and Cuba, shamelessness has become a political tool, an operational principle that is not only practiced but also, in a sense, "legislated" as part of daily life. This article explores how these governments have adopted what we call "The Law of Shamelessness," turning brazenness into a tactic for political survival.
Chapter 1: Origin and Definition of the Law of Shamelessness
The "Law of Shamelessness" is not a formal law, written in a penal or administrative code. Instead, it is a series of practices and attitudes that have been institutionalized de facto, where audacity and lack of shame in the exercise of power have become normalized, turning into a deliberate political strategy.
Subchapter 1.1: Definition of Political Shamelessness
Political shamelessness involves an attitude of arrogance and cynicism in public administration, where leaders and their close associates act with impunity, knowing there will be no significant legal or social consequences. This concept materializes in various forms:
- Blatant Lies: Outright falsehoods that are maintained as absolute truths, even when reality clearly contradicts them.
- Ostentatious Corruption: The accumulation of wealth and power by the ruling elite in such an obvious and shameless manner that, far from trying to hide it, they display it as a symbol of control.
- Manipulation of the Law: The use of the law and the judicial system not to protect the people, but to consolidate power and suppress opponents, without even maintaining a facade of justice.
Subchapter 1.2: Historical Context and Adoption in Venezuela and Cuba
In both countries, the Law of Shamelessness has taken root as a response to internal and external pressures. In Cuba, the Castro regime, facing decades of international isolation, found in shamelessness a way to challenge its critics, consolidate its power, and maintain social control. In Venezuela, Chavismo inherited this tactic, perfecting it as the economic and social crisis worsened, transforming what initially was an emergency resource into a central governance strategy.
Chapter 2: Implementation of the Law of Shamelessness in Politics
Subchapter 2.1: Election Manipulation and Shamelessness in Democracy
One of the most visible aspects of the Law of Shamelessness in Venezuela has been the blatant manipulation of electoral processes. Elections where the results are predictable even before the first votes are cast, with a state machinery designed to ensure the ruling party's victory. The electoral machinery, far from worrying about maintaining an appearance of legitimacy, acts with a cynical confidence in its ability to control any adverse narrative.
In Cuba, shamelessness manifests itself in the perpetuation of a single-party system that, under the guise of elections, simulates a popular participation that does not exist. Candidates are selected by the Communist Party, and voter participation, although presented as voluntary, is heavily influenced by state coercion and surveillance.
Subchapter 2.2: Propaganda and Informational Shamelessness
Both regimes have developed a propaganda machine that uses shamelessness as a primary tool. Instead of hiding government failures, official spokespeople often outright deny them or reinterpret them in such implausible ways that the underlying cynicism becomes evident.
In Venezuela, the government has gone to the extreme of attributing the humanitarian crisis to supposed international "economic sabotage," while in Cuba, the official narrative blames the U.S. embargo for all ills, ignoring decades of internal economic mismanagement. This blatant distortion of reality is a deliberate tactic to confuse, disorient, and demoralize the population.
Subchapter 2.3: Corruption as the Norm and Economic Shamelessness
In a normal country, corruption is hidden; in Venezuela and Cuba, it is brazenly displayed. Officials who lead luxurious lives amid widespread poverty, flaunting their wealth insultingly, represent a shamelessness that defies any principle of public ethics.
The cases are numerous: in Venezuela, government figures and their relatives have been accused of managing enormous fortunes abroad, while in Cuba, the ruling elite enjoys privileges that starkly contrast with the misery of the majority. This shamelessness is not only tolerated but is seen as a demonstration of the regime's indisputable power.
Chapter 3: Shamelessness in Social and Economic Management
Subchapter 3.1: Queues and Shortages: Shamelessness in Daily Survival
In Venezuela, the Law of Shamelessness manifests in the way shortages are managed. While the government continues to promise a "prosperous future," citizens face long lines to obtain basic products, if they find them at all. The shamelessness lies in the constant denial of the problem or the attribution of blame to external actors, ignoring internal corruption and mismanagement.
In Cuba, the dual currency system and rationing continue to affect the population, while the government insists that the system is fair and equitable. The fact that the ruling elite does not suffer these hardships adds an additional layer of shamelessness.
Subchapter 3.2: Healthcare and Education: Shamelessness in Public Services
Despite propaganda portraying Cuba as a model of success in healthcare and education, the reality for most is alarming decay. The lack of medical supplies, deteriorating infrastructure, and the migration of healthcare professionals are evidence of this. However, the government continues to proclaim its achievements, blatantly ignoring reality.
In Venezuela, the situation is similar: collapsed hospitals, schools without resources, and yet, the government continues boasting about a "socialist" system that is supposedly superior to any other country.
Chapter 4: Social Implications of the Law of Shamelessness
Subchapter 4.1: Erosion of Public Morality
Governmental shamelessness not only corrupts those in power but also profoundly affects society as a whole. When authorities act without shame and without consequences, a message is sent to the population: rules are for the weak, and survival depends on cunning and cynicism. This erodes public morality and fosters an environment where corruption, distrust, and opportunism become accepted norms.
Subchapter 4.2: Desperation and Resignation
The systematic application of the Law of Shamelessness leads to despair. Seeing that no matter how hard the ordinary individual tries, they will always be crushed by an unjust system, many fall into resignation. The feeling of helplessness becomes widespread, and political apathy becomes a common phenomenon, which in turn perpetuates the power of the regimes.
Chapter 5: The Law of Shamelessness and the Future
Subchapter 5.1: Is Shamelessness Sustainable?
Shamelessness has its limits. As the economic and social situation deteriorates, even the most cynical tactics begin to lose effectiveness. The key question is whether these regimes can indefinitely maintain a system based on shamelessness, or if they will eventually face a collapse, as has happened with other similar regimes in history.
Subchapter 5.2: Alternatives and Resistances
Despite the apparent omnipotence of the Law of Shamelessness, there is always resistance. In Venezuela and Cuba, despite repression, there are movements and individuals who continue to fight for truth, justice, and freedom. These movements, though marginalized and often repressed, represent the hope for a future where shamelessness is not the law, but the exception.
Conclusion
The Law of Shamelessness in Venezuela and Cuba is an extreme expression of how absolute power corrupts absolutely. When cynicism becomes a tool of governance, the result is an environment where truth is distorted, justice is subverted, and public morality is degraded. However, history has shown that such regimes, no matter how strong they may seem, are not invulnerable.