How is Venezuela’s oil dependency associated with the authoritarian rise of Hugo Chávez Frías? This question can be addressed in three varying pathways; short, medium and long-term explanations....Show moreHow is Venezuela’s oil dependency associated with the authoritarian rise of Hugo Chávez Frías? This question can be addressed in three varying pathways; short, medium and long-term explanations. This paper attempts to construct profound insights into the rise of Chávez as a populist competitive authoritarian leader. In order to comprehend the popularity of a leader with authoritarian characteristics, the political and socio-economic context must be understood. Chávez’s rise is often seen as a consequence of the collapse of the Punto Fijo system. However, this only provides medium-term explanations. Instead, it should be asked why the collapse of puntofijismo entail the rise of authoritarianism. To answer this question, this thesis commences its research by exploring the foundations of the pact of Punto Fijo. It finds that Venezuela did not consolidate its democracy and, as a consequence, during social upheaval, its democratic institutions withered when confronted with the rise of authoritarianism. Furthermore, it explores the social grievances that led to Chávez’s rise and analyzes the role of petroleum in his ascension to power. The findings conclude that the pact of Punto Fijo, which prevailed for 40 years, prolonged the existence of peace and disguised democracy in Venezuela because it was built on clientelist strategies that were supported by oil rents. The decline of the world price of oil in the 1980s meant the collapse of an unsustainable system alongside the Venezuelan quality of life which opened the route for the rise of an authoritarian leader, such as Chávez.Show less
While in power from 1999 to 2013, Hugo Chávez demonstrated a bold foreign policy rhetoric, based on the ideology of the Bolivarian Revolution. To promote the revolution and accomplish Bolivarian...Show moreWhile in power from 1999 to 2013, Hugo Chávez demonstrated a bold foreign policy rhetoric, based on the ideology of the Bolivarian Revolution. To promote the revolution and accomplish Bolivarian foreign policy objectives, Chávez leveraged his country's oil reserves, the largest in the world. This thesis examines Chávez's use of oil diplomacy, an essential foreign policy tool,to build strategic regional and international alliances that would enable him to achieve his objectives.Show less
Venezuela, dat ooit werd gekenmerkt als een redelijk stabiele elite democratie, kan niet langer meer zo genoemd worden. De groeiende macht van Chávez heeft zijn effect gehad op de vrijheid en...Show moreVenezuela, dat ooit werd gekenmerkt als een redelijk stabiele elite democratie, kan niet langer meer zo genoemd worden. De groeiende macht van Chávez heeft zijn effect gehad op de vrijheid en eerlijkheid van de verkiezingen en ook op de vermindering van macht van bepaalde instituties, de elite en de media. Ook de burger is in toenemende mate ontevreden: miljoenen Venezolanen kiezen ervoor niet te gaan stemmen, mede door groeiende ontevredenheid over voedseltekorten, stijgende inflatie, publieke onveiligheid, corruptie en steeds verder gecentraliseerde overheid en educatie. De Venezolaanse democratie is in verval. Dit onderzoek probeert te verklaren hoe een land dat gezien werd als een vrij stabiele elite democratie toch in verval heeft kunnen raken, geeft aan wat de zwakke plekken waren ten tijde van deze stabiliteit en wat de oorzaken zijn van de democratische erosie die sindsdien heeft plaatsgevonden.Show less
