The Clash of the "Anointed": From Spiritual Warfare to the Diplomacy of Faith between the United States and Venezuela
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: This article explores the geopolitical and religious intersection between the United States and Venezuela, tracing how Christian nationalism and dominion theology have reframed politics as a spiritual battlefield. I analyze Operation Absolute Resolve (2026) which led the Trump administration to capture Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro Moros and his wife, Cilia Flores, as a definitive clash between two figures claiming divine anointing. The study illustrates how the Seven Mountain Mandate provides a strategic roadmap for evangelical groups to embed themselves within key state institutions in both countries. Ultimately, I describe a shift toward a "diplomacy of faith," where apostolic networks in Venezuela prove remarkably adept at legitimizing new power structures. This research presents a case study of how the spiritual capital has emerged as a vital instrument for modern authoritarian governance and social control.
Source: Research Square
Author: Fernando A. Mora-Ciangherotti
Institutions: Universidad Simón Bolívar, Universidad Simón Bolívar
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225736830
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