Is Venezuela a Rentier State Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Is Venezuela a Rentier State - Essay ExampleThe question of whether Venezuela derives square portions of its economy from oil is without a doubt true Corrales (2006) even characterized President Hugo Chavez as one of the worlds most powerful CEOs, in regards to his sales event of oil to the United States. The Venezuelan government can also be seen to embody Rentier characteristics Chavez has been successful in centralizing power through an elimination of mediator government structures he has allowed rampant crime to persist and has allowed highly questionable election processes. While these actions can be seen to be highly indicative of a populace that ceases to intervene because of an abundance of oil money and reduced taxes, the reality of the situation is more complex. Indeed, its been argued that rather than Venezuelas political structure beingness allowed by the citizens out of apathy in the face of reduced taxes, it has occurred because of a systematic effort on the part o f Chavez to scare the citizens into submissions and acceptance of more liberal governmental standards. Corrales (pg. 9, 2006) compares this mentality to the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, The more insecurity that citizens facethe closer they come to living in the brutish state of naturethe more they will welcome state power. In this regard, its not the oil money that has influenced the populace, only when the calculated manipulations on the part of Chavez and his regime that have prepare the population into acceptance. When investigating the plausibility of democracy surviving in situations outside the United States, one must agree on what democracy means. If it is the communal incur of society through group consensus, as embodied in elected officials, protests, and free speech than Democratic rule is not only an element of Americanness, but a lynchpin of much of the European Union, as well as Australia, Israel, and Canada.