Carlos Lizarralde

Carlos Lizarralde
Carlos Lizarralde in 2024
Born
Caracas, Venezuela
CitizenshipVenezuelan, Spanish, American
EducationHampshire College (BA)
University of Massachusetts Amherst
OccupationsWriter, entrepreneur
Notable workVenezuela's Collapse (2024)
One in Four (2025)
Websitelizarralde.com

Carlos Lizarralde is a Venezuelan writer and entrepreneur. His work examines the historical, racial, and ethnic structures of Venezuela, specifically regarding the socio-political collapse and the mass exodus that began in the early 21st century.[1][2][3][4]

Education and early career

Lizarralde studied politics and literary theory at Hampshire College and pursued a doctorate in Comparative Literature at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

In 1996, he co-founded the alternative youth weekly Urbe in Caracas, where he served as publisher. In 1997, he co-founded the magazine Radar.[5][6]

During a twenty-five-year career in media and technology, Lizarralde's entrepreneurial ventures were profiled in publications including The Wall Street Journal and Forbes.[7][8][9]

Literary work

In 2024, Lizarralde published Venezuela's Collapse: The Long Story of How Things Fell Apart. The book traces five centuries of demographic and economic strands to analyze the rise of Chavismo. In a review for the Harvard Review of Latin America (ReVista), the work was noted for centering the Venezuelan crisis on deep-seated social and ethnic conflicts rather than solely on conventional political or economic mismanagement.[10]

In 2025, he followed with One in Four: The Exodus that Emptied Venezuela, 2019–2024, an analysis of the demographic collapse and the migration of nearly eight million people.

Lizarralde is a contributor to international media on Venezuelan affairs. His analysis has appeared in The Guardian, The Independent, and Norway's public broadcaster NRK. He has also written for Persuasion, Caracas Chronicles, and Papel Literario, the literary supplement of El Nacional.[11][12]

Works

  • Venezuela's Collapse: The Long Story of How Things Fell Apart (2024). Codex Novellus. ISBN 979-8-9888756-0-4.
    • Spanish edition: La Gran Venezuela: La larga historia de cómo se desmoronó todo (2025). Translated by Rafael Osío Cabrices. Editorial Dahbar. ISBN 979-8-9888756-2-8.
    • Audiobook: Venezuela's Collapse (2025). Narrated by Erica Heidepriem. Codex Novellus/Audible. ISBN 979-8-9888756-3-5.
  • One in Four: The Exodus that Emptied Venezuela, 2019–2024 (2025). Codex Novellus. ISBN 979-8-9888756-4-2.

Reception

Lizarralde's work has been cited by prominent figures in Venezuelan and international literature. New York Times bestselling author Ariana Neumann described Venezuela's Collapse as a "thorough and serious examination of Venezuelan history."[13] Playwright and National Medal of Arts recipient Moisés Kaufman characterized the work as a definitive chronicle of the historical events leading to the presidency of Hugo Chávez. Journalist Boris Muñoz, a Maria Moors Cabot Award winner, noted that the book "sheds light on the roots of its current crisis" through its historical narrative.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Trew, Bel (2024-01-04). "The Venezuelans are very clear about who their president is – and it's not Trump". London (United Kindgom): The Independent. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  2. ↑ Vall de La Ville, Keila (2025-12-13). "Carlos Lizarralde: "Estamos saliendo de una guerra civil gigantesca"" (in Spanish). Caracas (Venezuela): El Nacional. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  3. ↑ Roche Rodriguez, Michelle (2026-01-16). "Buscar la verdad en Venezuela: libros para entender la paradoja del colapso" (in Spanish). Madrid (Spain): El Pais. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  4. ↑ Sainz Borgo, Karina (2025-12-15). "Una biblioteca venezolana" (in Spanish). Madrid (Spain): ABC. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  5. ↑ "Urbe". Saber. Caracas (Venezuela): UCAB. 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  6. ↑ Rodolfo (2005-07-23). "La historia negra de Urbe". Sin Contemplaciones. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  7. ↑ Druckerman, Pamela (2000-02-09). "Loquesea.com Tries to Reach Audience With Edgy Content". New York (United States): The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  8. ↑ Cowan, Lynn (2009-04-17). "Rosetta Stone's IPO Jumps Nearly 40%". New York (United States): The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  9. ↑ Stoddard, Taylor (2018-10-09). "Fluenz, An Experiential Immersion Program Offers Unmatched Luxury Getaways To Help Improve Fluency". Jersey City (United States): Forbes. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  10. ↑ Jennische, Erik (2024-07-24). "A Review of Venezuela's Collapse – The Long Story of How Things Fell Apart". Cambridge (United States): Revista, Harvard Review of Latin America. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  11. ↑ Lizarralde, Carlos (2024-08-02). "Venezuela's Fate Is in the Hands of Its Army". Persuasion. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  12. ↑ Lizarralde, Carlos (2024-03-10). "La ilusión del país post-racial. Fragmento" (in Spanish). Caracas (Venezuela): El Nacional. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  13. ↑ "La gran Venezuela". Editorial Dahbar (in Spanish). Editorial Dahbar. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  14. ↑ "Venezuela's Collapse: The Long Story of How Things Fell Apart". Codex Novellus. Codex Novellus. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
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