<p>Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined again by regular guest Benjamin Studebaker, political theorist and PhD from University of Cambridge to break down everything you need to know about Venezuela. In the public episode, Studebaker and I break down the situation in Venezuela, US aggression, and unpack the history of Venezuela as a case study of petrostates and Why Nations Fail while others get rich. We also analyze Trump’s regime change ambitions and the risk of war, the rise and unraveling of Chávez and Maduro, the oil curse that wrecked Venezuelan socialism, and why so many post-colonial petrol states get trapped between getting rich and falling apart. Along the way, we break down how nations really become wealthy or fail, debunk popular myths about development and decolonization, and map the structural traps that still ensnare countries in the Global South.</p><p><br></p><p>In The Backroom exclusive episode on Patreon, we discuss the limits of anti-imperialist politics,  Israel-Palestine, and the tragic legacy of decolonization in Africa, then dive into more niche political theory debates where I introduce Ben to my early ideas about “The Will and the Spirit” and debate the question of political influence and what we can actually DO to change anything. </p><p><br></p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00:00  The Backroom Preview: Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism</p><p>00:06:27  WTF is Happening Between Venezuela and the USA? </p><p>00:08:35  Petrol states 101, Dutch Disease, and US Sanctions</p><p>00:22:48  War Powers and the Imperial Presidency</p><p>00:30:33  Hugo Chávez, the Bolivarian Revolution, and Maduro</p><p>00:35:28  Hyperinflation, Corruption, and the Militocracy Trap</p><p>00:44:02  Libya, and The New Regime-Change Playbook</p><p>00:49:21  The Guyana border crisis</p><p>00:55:09  Gulf monarchies, migrant underclasses, and “successful” petrol states</p><p>00:59:26  Trump’s military build-up and scenarios for a Venezuela war</p><p>01:06:47  Eastern Europe democratization vs Middle East Interventions </p><p>01:17:17  Cartels, Mexico, Argentina, and the Latin American security order</p><p>01:35:07  The Truth about Maduro and Venezuelan democracy</p><p>01:50:03  Pseudo-activity and limits of anti-imperialist activism </p><p>01:54:09  Palestine, anti-imperialism, and what counts as politics (The Backroom Transition)</p><p><br></p><p>GUEST:</p><p>Benjamin Studebaker - political theorist, PhD in Politics from the University of Cambridge.</p><p><br></p><p>• Substack: https://bmstudebaker.substack.com/  </p><p>• Blog: https://benjaminstudebaker.com  </p><p>• X/Twitter: https://x.com/BMStudebaker  </p><p><br></p><p>FOLLOW 1Dime</p><p>• Substack (Articles and Essays):** https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime  </p><p>•X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial  </p><p>• Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/tonyof1dime</p><p>igsh=MWNuMjhpMHoxbHBwZg%3D%3D&amp;utm_source=qr  </p><p>• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee  </p><p><br></p><p>Outro Music by Karl Casey</p><p><br></p><p>Leave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.</p>

1Dime Radio

Tony of 1Dime

Venezuela: How to Destroy a Nation (Ft. Benjamin Studebaker)

NOV 15, 2025115 MIN
1Dime Radio

Venezuela: How to Destroy a Nation (Ft. Benjamin Studebaker)

NOV 15, 2025115 MIN

Description

<p>Get access to The Backroom (80+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OneDime</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined again by regular guest Benjamin Studebaker, political theorist and PhD from University of Cambridge to break down everything you need to know about Venezuela. In the public episode, Studebaker and I break down the situation in Venezuela, US aggression, and unpack the history of Venezuela as a case study of petrostates and Why Nations Fail while others get rich. We also analyze Trump’s regime change ambitions and the risk of war, the rise and unraveling of Chávez and Maduro, the oil curse that wrecked Venezuelan socialism, and why so many post-colonial petrol states get trapped between getting rich and falling apart. Along the way, we break down how nations really become wealthy or fail, debunk popular myths about development and decolonization, and map the structural traps that still ensnare countries in the Global South.</p><p><br></p><p>In The Backroom exclusive episode on Patreon, we discuss the limits of anti-imperialist politics,  Israel-Palestine, and the tragic legacy of decolonization in Africa, then dive into more niche political theory debates where I introduce Ben to my early ideas about “The Will and the Spirit” and debate the question of political influence and what we can actually DO to change anything. </p><p><br></p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00:00  The Backroom Preview: Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism</p><p>00:06:27  WTF is Happening Between Venezuela and the USA? </p><p>00:08:35  Petrol states 101, Dutch Disease, and US Sanctions</p><p>00:22:48  War Powers and the Imperial Presidency</p><p>00:30:33  Hugo Chávez, the Bolivarian Revolution, and Maduro</p><p>00:35:28  Hyperinflation, Corruption, and the Militocracy Trap</p><p>00:44:02  Libya, and The New Regime-Change Playbook</p><p>00:49:21  The Guyana border crisis</p><p>00:55:09  Gulf monarchies, migrant underclasses, and “successful” petrol states</p><p>00:59:26  Trump’s military build-up and scenarios for a Venezuela war</p><p>01:06:47  Eastern Europe democratization vs Middle East Interventions </p><p>01:17:17  Cartels, Mexico, Argentina, and the Latin American security order</p><p>01:35:07  The Truth about Maduro and Venezuelan democracy</p><p>01:50:03  Pseudo-activity and limits of anti-imperialist activism </p><p>01:54:09  Palestine, anti-imperialism, and what counts as politics (The Backroom Transition)</p><p><br></p><p>GUEST:</p><p>Benjamin Studebaker - political theorist, PhD in Politics from the University of Cambridge.</p><p><br></p><p>• Substack: https://bmstudebaker.substack.com/  </p><p>• Blog: https://benjaminstudebaker.com  </p><p>• X/Twitter: https://x.com/BMStudebaker  </p><p><br></p><p>FOLLOW 1Dime</p><p>• Substack (Articles and Essays):** https://substack.com/@tonyof1dime  </p><p>•X/Twitter: https://x.com/1DimeOfficial  </p><p>• Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/tonyof1dime</p><p>igsh=MWNuMjhpMHoxbHBwZg%3D%3D&amp;utm_source=qr  </p><p>• Check out my main channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee  </p><p><br></p><p>Outro Music by Karl Casey</p><p><br></p><p>Leave a like, drop a comment, and give the show a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to this.</p>