… comes from an article in The Times about Zimbabwe:
Mugabe is not unpopular in Zimbabwe today because his government has been autocratic and brutal. He’s not unpopular because the minority (yet significant) Matabele tribe has been persecuted, killed, and dispossessed by a ruling party whose power base lies among the majority Mashona. He is not unpopular because he and his wife are greedy and flaunt their wealth, or because corruption is widespread in his government. He is unpopular because his administration is broken and there’s nothing for ordinary people to eat.
Many Zimbabweans are not hungry for liberal democracy, but for food. Consequently, much of Morgan Tsvangirai’s support stems from an urban minority or from minority tribes that have been unfairly treated regarding resource distribution by Zanu (PF). They too, many of them, are not hungry for liberal democracy but for a change of fortunes. Unless we are careful, today’s television images may reverse tomorrow, and we might see those who once were fleeing now pursuing; and those who once pursued now fleeing; the iron bars have changed hands.
Change a few names, and voilà, the perfect definition of Venezuelan politics.