Political Geography: Venezuela - CIAO Search Results

Author:: Michael Coppedge
Publication Date:: 04-2002
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Kellogg Institute for International Studies
Abstract:: In order to evaluate accurately the state of democratic governance during the first years of the Chávez presidency, one must sharpen the distinction between democracy narrowly defined as popular sovereignty versus the more conventional notion of liberal democracy. Venezuela was no longer a liberal democracy in every respect. Instead, it became an extreme case of delegative democracy. The president enjoyed widespread popular support for almost everything he and his followers did, and this fact qualified his government as "democratic" in the narrow sense of popular sovereignty. But the systematic elimination of constraints on presidential action after 1998 increased the risk that Venezuela would cease to be a democracy by any definition in the future.
Topic:: Civil Society and Government
Political Geography:: South America, Latin America, and Venezuela

Author:: Eduardo Pizarro Leongómez
Publication Date:: 01-2002
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Kellogg Institute for International Studies
Abstract:: The Colombian Liberal-Conservative bipartyism appeared up until just a decade ago not only as one of the oldest but also as one of the most institutionalized party systems in Latin America. Today, even though a complete party collapse similar to those ocurred in Peru and Venezuela did not take place, the erosion of both parties has followed a path with few historical precedents: an extreme "personalist factionalism" (Giovanni Sartori) or, to use a more coloquial term that has become popular in Colombia, the implosion of parties in tens and tens of electoral micro-businesses.
Topic:: Democratization, Government, and Politics
Political Geography:: Colombia, South America, Latin America, Venezuela, and Peru

Author:: Laura Neuman and Jennifer McCoy
Publication Date:: 02-2001
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Carter Center
Abstract:: Venezuela under President Hugo Chávez undertook a bold experiment to revamp its political system and address economic inequities and poverty. The country held seven votes in two years as voters chose Hugo Chávez to lead them in December 1998 and then supported his radical reform program, beginning with a new constitution. A Constitutional Assembly was elected in July 1999 to draft a new constitution, which voters approved in December 1999. Every elected position in the country was then presented to the voters again in a two-stage election in July and December 2000. While we do not believe that the election irregularities would have changed the 2000 presidential results, the significant politicization of the elections and organizational deficiencies contributed to a lack of confidence in the process and the nonpresidential results, thus leading us to characterize the July 2000 elections as flawed.
Topic:: Democratization and Development
Political Geography:: South America, Latin America, and Venezuela

Publication Date:: 01-2000
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: The Carter Center
Abstract:: During the first six months of this year, four Latin American countries exercised democracy by scheduling elections. The Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela laid the groundwork for electoral processes, though only the Dominican Republic and Mexico actually held elections as planned (see also “What Latin America's Elections Really Mean,” Page 4). In all four cases, however, Carter Center delegates were on site to monitor the proceedings. Below are the Center's observations, listing the most recent election first.
Topic:: Development, Environment, Human Rights, Migration, Science and Technology, and Third World
Political Geography:: South America, Latin America, Central America, Caribbean, Venezuela, Mexico, and Peru

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