The depth of Venezuela's current troubles is only now reaching international headlines, yet it's been 3 weeks since protests started, showing little sign of abating. The country, increasingly unstable, seems to have reached a tipping point.

Now that the worst of the crisis in Ukraine seems to have (hopefully) passed, the situation in Venezuela might be somewhat of a head-scratcher for the uninitiated. This primer should bring you up to date on the essential moving parts of the political and social earthquake rocking the country with the largest oil reserves in the Western hemisphere.

• Hugo Chávez, a former army officer and Venezuela's president until 2012, rose to power in 1998 with a promise to eradicate poverty, corruption and prioritize the empowerment of the poor. In a country with both staggering oil revenues and deep inequality, his political program found broad support. He transformed the country, changing its name, constitution and institutions with a unique brand of politics he coined "21st Century Socialism." Chávez died of cancer unexpectedly in March of 2013, having won his 4th presidential election just a few months earlier.

• Nicolás Maduro, his chosen successor, campaigned and won a hotly contested election in April 2013, beating Henrique Capriles Radonski by just 1.5%.

• While inequality decreased dramatically under Chávez, Venezuela continues to face multiple crises: widespread corruption, one of the highest murder and inflation rates in the world, shortages of basic goods, rolling blackouts, deep polarization and an increasingly repressive government with almost total control over the nation.

What Ignited The Flame This Time Around?

• It began February 5th in San Cristóbal, a university town in western Venezuela and an opposition stronghold. After a female student was sexually assaulted, students took to the streets to demand increased security on campus. The government retaliated, arresting 5 students. The next day protests demanding the release of the jailed students spread to Maracaibo, the 2nd largest city in the country. They haven't stopped since.

What Makes This Time Different?

• The violence: As of February 26th, 14 people have died and 712 have been arrested during the clashes. Reports of torture have also emerged. Venezuela hasn't experienced this level of violence since the 2002 uprisings and attempted coup against Chávez. The specter of the failed coup still haunts both sides.

• Colectivos: Controversial community groups tacitly (and allegedly, actively) supported and armed by the government have clashed violently with anti-government protesters in an effort to protect the "Bolivarian Revolution."

• Guarimbas: A protest tactic used in the past, but taken to the next level this time around. Protesters build street barricades made from burning tires, trash and anything else they can find to keep the National Guard and the colectivos away. Used mainly by anti-government protesters, their use has been denounced as counterproductive by moderate leaders of the opposition.

• Censorship: the government directly or indirectly controls most of the mainstream media in the country and has flexed its muscle by instating a media blackout of the demonstrations. Venezuelans are getting their news through a mix of online hearsay and international outlets. Even so, NTN24, a Colombian news channel covering the unrest was abruptly taken off the air after the government accused the station of taking the opposition's side. Journalists from CNN En Español had their credentials revoked (and then reinstated) after reporting on the situation. The government temporarily shut down Internet access in San Cristóbal last week during the worst days of unrest. Twitter, Facebook, and Zello are now crucial means of organizing and securing information.

Where Does It Go From Here?

• The million-dollar question. While the students remain at the forefront of the protests, political parties and the population at large have quickly joined in. One of the leading opposition figures, Leopoldo López, was accused of inciting violence and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He turned himself in on February 18th. That night, the most violent clashes yet took place.

• Henrique Capriles Radonski, the former presidential candidate and governor of the country's 2nd most populous state has released a list of demands and encouraged further peaceful protests; while President Maduro has called all factions for a "Peace Conference" at the presidential residence.

• In the meantime, the streets are still littered with guarimbas; the National Guard, the most extreme factions of the opposition and pro-government colectivos continue to fight. The students have realized their very freedom to protest is at risk. This is all to say that there's no solution in sight, each side apparently improvising in the midst of a rapidly changing landscape. The majority of the population seems exhausted by 15 years of infighting and, whatever happens, the underlying issues that sparked the protests will still remain unsolved once the unrest subsides.​