Of Mainwaring and Scully’s eight lessons, creating an effective state through economic regulations, would be most relevant for Venezuela to combat drug trafficking and crime in the region. “The Venezuelan government can no longer afford to provide even rudimentary law and order, making Caracas one of the most murderous cities in the world. Drug traffickers run large sections of the countryside. Prison gang leaders keep military-style weapons on hand, while grenade attacks still make the news” (Naím 2014). In Venezuela, investments in patrimonial practices allow public-sector corruption to flourish and legal systems to become corrupt. Moreover, the regulatory capacity of Venezuela has become poor, and a lack of public investment has made social policy and protection for citizens weak. “The breakdown of law and order has become so severe that even children are being robbed. At Nuestra Señora del Carmen school in El Cortijo, supplies for the school-lunch program have been stolen twice this year by thugs who have broken into the school’s pantry late at night after fresh food is delivered” (Naím 2016).
