Boris Muñoz

Visiting Professor

Boris Muñoz is a Venezuelan journalist and editor known for his ability to unravel Latin America’s political and social complexities. His work combines analytical rigor and human storytelling, focusing on the conflicts that have shaped the trajectory of Venezuela and Latin America over the past quarter century. From his reporting in the streets of Caracas to his columns in El País, Muñoz has shed light on the transformations of a region in constant flux. He is also the Curator of Ideas at BOOM, a platform dedicated to exploring critical issues in Latin America.

Holding a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature from Rutgers University, Muñoz has contributed to esteemed publications such as Newsweek, The New Yorker, Gatopardo, El Malpensante, and Internazionale. He was the founding director of The New York Times Opinion section in Spanish and the author of books like La ley de la calle and Despachos del imperio. He has been a fellow at prestigious institutions, including the Nieman Foundation for Journalism, the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University, and the Latin American Program at the Wilson Center in Washington. In 2019, he received the María Moors Cabot Prize from Columbia University for his distinguished career.

In this course at Berkeley, Muñoz will examine the rise and fall of Chavismo in Venezuela — a story of hope and disillusionment that culminated in the largest migration crisis on the continent, with nearly eight million Venezuelan migrants. Drawing on his experience as a reporter and witness to this process, he will offer a unique perspective on the lessons this episode holds for democracy in the region and beyond.

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