A Country Study: Venezuela

• Venezuela
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Preface
• Country Profile - Visit new updated Profile (PDF)
  • Geography
  • Society
  • Economy
  • Transportation and Telecommunications
  • Government and Politics
  • National Security
• Introduction

• Chapter 1 - Historical Setting (James D. Rudolph)
  • Discovery and Conquest
  • Spanish Colonial Life
  • The Epic of Independence
  • A Century of Caudillismo
  • The Transition to Democratic Rule
  • The Triumph of Democracy

• Chapter 2 - The Society and Its Environment (Iêda Siqueira Wiarda)
  • Geography
    • Topography
    • Climate
    • Hydrography
  • Population Dynamics
    • Population Profile
    • Migration
    • Settlement Patterns
  • Social Structure
    • The Elite
    • The Middle Class
    • Peasants
    • Workers and the Urban Lower Class
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Modernization, Social Values, and Religion
  • Social Welfare
    • Education
    • Health and Social Security

• Chapter 3 - The Economy (Daniel J. Seyler)
  • Growth and Structure of the Economy
  • Economic Policy
    • Fiscal Policy
    • Monetary and Exchange Rate Policies
  • Labor
    • Formal Sector
    • Informal Sector
  • Agriculture
    • Land Policies
    • Land Use
    • Crops
      • Food Crops
      • Cash Crops
    • Livestock
    • Farming Technology
    • Fishing and Forestry
  • Energy and Industry
    • Petroleum
    • Natural Gas and Petrochemicals
    • Electricity
    • Mining
    • Manufacturing
    • Construction
  • Services
    • Banking and Financial Services
    • Transportation
    • Telecommunications
    • Tourism
  • Foreign Economic Relations
    • Foreign Trade
    • Balance of Payments
    • Foreign Debt
    • Foreign Assistance

• Chapter 4 - Government and Politics (Howard J. Wiarda and Iêda Siqueira Wiarda)
  • The Governmental System
    • Constitutional Development
    • The Executive
    • The Legislature
    • The Judiciary
    • Public Administration
    • Local Government
    • The Electoral System
  • Political Dynamics
    • Political Developments since 1958
    • Interest Groups and Major Political Actors
    • Political Parties
    • Formal and Informal Dynamics of Public Policy
    • The Mass Media
  • Foreign Relations

• Chapter 5 - National Security (Richard A. Haggerty)
  • History of the Armed Forces
  • Strategic Setting
    • Venezuela and the United States
    • Venezuela and Colombia
    • Venezuela and Guyana
    • Venezuela and Brazil
  • Role of the Military in National Life
    • Missions
    • Manpower
    • Defense Spending
  • Armed Forces Organization, Training, and Equipment
    • The Army
    • The Navy
    • The Air Force
    • The Armed Forces of Cooperation (National Guard)
    • Uniforms, Ranks, and Insignia
  • Internal Security and Public Order
    • Threats to Internal Security
    • Law Enforcement Agencies
    • The Criminal Justice System
    • The Prison System

• Appendix. Tables
• Bibliography
• Glossary