This comprehensive overview of Venezuelan history, culture, and politics is designed to ground the high school student's knowledge of the crucial role of the nation on the international scene.Venezuela stands out as one of Latin America's most influential, yet controversial countries, leading students to want to know more about the nation and its outspoken president. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to ground an understanding of the contemporary nation, Venezuela provides the reader with an overview of the Venezuelan story from 1499 to the present.The study provides a comprehensive look at all aspects of life in this South American powerhouse, discussing the nation's geography, history, government and politics, economy, society, and culture. Specific attention is directed to topics such as industry, labor, religion, ethnicity, women, etiquette, literature, art, music, and food, among many others. In addition, the book examines the controversy surrounding Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez. Written in an accessible and engaging tone, this volume is ideal for high school and undergraduate students-and essential for library shelves.

A chronology goes beyond a simple listing of historical events to include events of literary, artistic, and cultural interest, as well as those of historical, economic, and political interest

About the AuthorsPreface1 GeographyDeath in El DoradoGeographic OverviewThe Maracaibo Lowlands: Fountain of Black GoldThe Mountains of the West and North: From Andes Towns to Capital CityBeaches, Oil, and Coffee!Following the Orinoco River to the Guiana Highlands: The Lost WorldThe Orinoco PlainsAmazonas and the Far South2 HISTORYTimelineColonial BeginningsThe Established Colony and Colonial InstitutionsIndependenceThe Long 19th CenturyMi Benemérito Juan Vicente GómezOilGómez Is Dead: Now What?The Trienio (1945-1948)Marcos Pérez JiménezPunto FijoThe Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of PartidocraciaThe Very Ugly 1980s3 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICSBranches of Government and Governmental StructureFederal and State StructurePolitical PartiesElectoral SystemConstitutionAn Overview of Formative Events in Recent Venezuelan PoliticsThe End of Puntofijismo and the Economic CrisisThe First Military Coup Attempts1998 Presidential ElectionsNew President, New Constitution, MegaelectionsNew Policies, New ProjectsThe 48-Hour Coup or the Chamber of Commerce CoupThe RecallThe Lesson of Social PolarizationThe "People's President" and Civil SocietyChávez and Bolivarian Revolution: Successes and Failures-Trying to Occupy the Barren Middle GroundDemocracy and the Democratic ProcessPoverty and State Spending on the Poor4 ECONOMYOverviewA Note on the Informal EconomyIndustryNeoliberalismLaborEconomics and Politics in the Chávez EraTrade and FinanceLand ReformConclusion5 SOCIETYIntroductionReligion and ThoughtReligion and ReligiosityThe Catholic Church in the Colonial EraChurch, State, and Society in the 19th and 20th CenturyPopular Religion and ReligiosityMaría LionzaProtestantism in VenezuelaPractical ReligiositySocial Classes and EthnicityWho Is Venezuelan?: Race and Class in VenezuelaIndigenous Venezuelans in the Colonial EraSlave and Free, African and Mixed Race in Colonial VenezuelaWhite Venezuelans in the Colonial EraLiving Together in the Colonial EraEstablishing the Rules about Coexistence and Interaction after IndependenceIndigenous Venezuelans in the 19th CenturyBlurring the Line between Race and ClassWomen and MarriageOppression and Adoration: Women in Education, Politics, and Beauty PageantsPublic versus Private: Social and Historical ContextCurrent Political and Social StatusEducation and IncomeMarriage and HealthPoliticsThe Dividing Line of Social ClassThe Goddess and the QueenOppression and Adoration: The ParadoxThe Revolutionary Gay Movement: Seeking a Place for LGBT Rights in 21st-Century VenezuelaEducationEducation: A Path to Modernization and EqualityHistorical BackgroundContemporary OverviewExemplary Public Higher Education: The Universidad Central de VenezuelaChanges to the Educational SystemControversy and Opposition to Educational ChangesConclusions6 CULTUREIntroductionLanguagePreliminary Expansion and Domination of CastilianAndrés Bello Cleans Up the LanguageModern Spanish in Venezuela: Would Bello Be Proud?Indigenous Languages in Venezuela: Language Domination and SurvivalOther Indigenous LanguagesThe Importance of EnglishCase Study: Little VeniceEtiquetteRespect and the FamilyEtiquette and Growing UpEtiquette, Family, and the Daily Rhythms of LifeEtiquette, Family, and DatingClothingParties and Other Gatherings, Formal or OtherwiseTime and TrafficEtiquette and Language for ProfessionalsLiteratureAndrés Bello: Writer, Philosopher, Jurist, Educator, All-Around Intellectual HeroThe 19th Century and Intellectual AutonomyWomen Writing the 20th Century and BeyondWorking Together: Literary GroupsPublic Poetry and the Writer-StatesmanArtMysterious Rock ArtArmando Reverón Remakes the Venezuelan LandscapeAlejandro Otero and the Geometric RevolutionSoto and Cruz-Diez: Making Art MoveGego and the Reticulated ImageMarisol: Pop Art with a MessageJavier Téllez: Video Passports to Other SpacesMonuments to National Art and National PridePopular Art in 21st-Century CaracasMusicTeresa Carreño: Classical HeroineClassical Music in Contemporary Venezuela: Creating OpportunityPopular Music: The National SoundThe Voice of the People: Community Radio and Contemporary Rap MusicFoodCorn and RiceFruits and VegetablesMeat and SeafoodBeveragesAgricultural Production and Price ControlsSports and LeisureBaseball: The National SportSoccerOther SportsLeisure ActivitiesFestivals: Tradition and Modernity CombinePopular CultureThe Most Popular of Culture: The TelenovelaOther Programs and Issues in the World of Venezuelan TelevisionFilmPageantry and the Price of BeautyArchitectureVernacular ArchitectureColonial ArchitectureThe Advent of Professional ArchitectureMisión Habitat: 21st-Century Approaches to Public Housing7 CONTEMPORARY ISSUESInternal Issues: Instability, Insecurity, and Human RightsPolitical InstabilityCorruptionFreedom of the Press and Freedom of AssemblyElectricity and Water ProblemsForeign Relations: Chasing Bolívar's DreamVenezuela-Colombia RelationsVenezuela and the United StatesConclusionsGlossaryFacts and FiguresMajor Venezuelan Holidays and FestivalsCountry-Related OrganizationsAnnotated BibliographyThematic IndexIndex