Steve Ellner earned his Ph.D. in Latin American history at the University of New Mexico in 1980. Since 1977 he has taught economic history and political science at the Universidad de Oriente in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela and for a ten year period taught in the graduate school of law and political science of the Universidad Central de Venezuela.

Among his book publications are:

Rethinking Venezuelan Politics: Class, Polarization and the Chávez Phenomenon. (2008);

Venezuelan Politics in the Chávez Era: Class, Polarization and Conflict (co-editor, 2003);

Venezuela: Hugo Chávez and the Decline of an “Exceptional” Democracy” (co-editor, 2007);

The Pink Tide Experiences: Breakthroughs and Shortcomings in Twenty-First Century  (2019)