This thesis seeks to analyse a very relevant and important topic in current Latin America, namely that of the use of rhetoric and external crises as a distracting strategy in order to redirect...Show moreThis thesis seeks to analyse a very relevant and important topic in current Latin America, namely that of the use of rhetoric and external crises as a distracting strategy in order to redirect attention from internal problems. This strategy, mostly used through rhetoric, is a common feature between the two dominating political streams in the region; a rightist or neoliberal-oriented one and the leftist, or the so-called Pink Tide current. The empirical study analyses the relation between the Colombian government under Álvaro Uribe’s presidency and the Venezuela government under Hugo Chávez’ presidency, in combination with press coverage over internal problems.Show less