Sure, the legitimacy argument has served to sanction chavista actors and claim legal control over foreign assets. But as a political tool, it has failed to drive real change. The theory embraced by some opposition lawyers and advisors was straightforward: the force of law comes from its legitimacy—that is, the justification or reasoning that... See more

An ordinary Venezuelan won’t skip a visit to SAIME to renew its passport just because Maduro’s state isn’t legitimate. They won’t ignore a fine or tell a police officer they have no authority because the state they serve is illegitimate. They’ll go to SAIME because only the state can issue a valid passport. They’ll obey the officer because he still... See more

An ordinary Venezuelan won’t skip a visit to SAIME to renew its passport just because Maduro’s state isn’t legitimate. They won’t ignore a fine or tell a police officer they have no authority because the state they serve is illegitimate. They’ll go to SAIME because only the state can issue a valid passport. They’ll obey the officer because he still... See more