Accession Number:

ADA379397

Title:

Hugo Chavez Frias' Presidential Election: The Institutional, Economic, and Cultural Dimensions of a Political Phenomenon

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s):

• Lylo, Wismar A.

Report Date:

2000-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

107.0

Abstract:

The thesis analyzes the rise of a political outsider in Venezuela, a country previously dominated by candidates from a strong and consolidated democratic party system. This thesis examines three dimensions-- institutional, economic, and cultural--to find interrelated elements that explain the Hugo Chavez Frias presidential victory in 1998. The findings suggest that the Venezuelan political culture constantly fosters military participation in politics. For many years, this impulse was contained by an institutionalized party system. However, poor economic performance by political leaders led to the decreasing governability and political instability in the 199Os, and the decay of the institutionalized party system, which created the opportunity for Hugo Chavez Frias to win the 1998 presidential election.

Descriptors:

• *POLITICAL SCIENCE
• *POLITICAL PARTIES
• *VENEZUELA
• *ELECTIONS
• LEADERSHIP
• ECONOMICS
• INTERACTIONS
• THESES
• CIVIL AFFAIRS
• INSTABILITY
• CULTURE

Subject Categories:

• Government and Political Science

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE