1st Edition

The Failure of Political Reform in Venezuela

By Julia Buxton Copyright 2002

    This title was first published in 2001. The victory of former lieutenant colonel Hugo Chavez in the Venezuelan presidential elections of 1998 was criticized as a blow against the country's deep-seated democratic tradition. It is claimed that this simplistic argument fails to recognize the extent of democratic deterioration in the country and the limitations imposed by discredited political actors on a meaningful democratic reform process. The book aims to break new ground in providing unseen evidence of electoral fraud and offers a fresh perspective on the nature of democratic development.

    List of Tables -- Acknowledgements -- List of Abbreviations -- List of Venezuelan States -- Introduction -- 1 Structuring the Two Party System -- 2 Economic Decline and System Decay -- 3 Abstention and Alienation -- 4 Electoral Corruption -- 5 Containing Reform -- 6 Roots and Characteristics of La Causa Radical -- 7 Towards System Transition -- 8 Into the Fifth Republic -- 9 Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index.

    Biography

    Julia Buxton