The world press, suddenly aware of the deepening crisis in Venezuela, is relishing in the Bolivarian Revolution’s woes. But its coverage rarely goes deeper than images of poor people clamoring for food. The photos index the situation’s seriousness, but they do not capture its complexity.

The crisis is economic and political, and sits on the edge of social confrontation. At stake is not only the economic future of Venezuela, but also the future of the country’s mass movements.

The crisis’s most visible form is the scarcity of basic goods and medicines, which worsens the further one gets from Caracas. Venezuelans hoping to buy products like coffee and rice or toilet paper and diapers begin lining up early each morning. But supermarket shelves are virtually empty, and essential drugs and medicines are unavailable.