David A. Smilde

David A. Smilde serves as the Charles A. and Leo M. Favrot Professor of Human Relations and Chair of the Department of Sociology at Tulane University. A leading authority on Venezuelan politics, his scholarship examines revolutionary movements, political violence, and authoritarian transitions within Chavismo.

His academic foundation includes:

• Ph.D. from the University of Chicago

Smilde's research program centers on paradoxes of violence during Venezuela's revolutionary period, analyzing how social gains coexisted with escalating crime and state complicity in violence. He employs global historical sociology to dissect transnational networks between social movements, NGOs, and governments, with current projects focusing on transitional justice and Catholic Church roles in Venezuelan-Colombian peacemaking. His neoweberian conflict theory framework examines electoral politics, freedom of expression, and corruption within Venezuela's authoritarian slide.

Analysis of his 2017-2024 publications reveals thematic consistency: U.S. foreign policy impacts on Venezuela, authoritarian consolidation mechanisms, and peace process obstacles. His work bridges academic rigor and policy relevance through frequent Foreign Policy and Washington Post contributions, highlighting diplomatic levers for democratic change amid oil diplomacy debates.

Smilde actively collaborates with the Woodrow Wilson Center's Venezuela Working Group and Amnesty International, evidenced by his 2021-2022 Caracas-Notre Dame conferences. His upcoming June 2024 Bogotá mini-conference will compare Venezuelan and Colombian peace construction efforts, demonstrating sustained engagement with applied conflict resolution.