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Publication Date

2008-01-01

Availability

UM campus only

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Geography (Arts and Sciences)

Date of Defense

2008-04-01

First Committee Member

Dr. Mazen Labban - Committee Chair

Second Committee Member

Dr. Richard Grant - Committee Member

Third Committee Member

Dr. Gail Hollander - Committee Member

Abstract

Through Venezuela?s past experiences with foreign influences including its relationship with foreign oil companies and international organizations like the IMF, the current Venezuelan government has retaken control of national petroleum reserves. With the power acquired through the process of retaking control, the government has attempted to increase the incidence of regionalism and decrease the influence of the U.S. in three main ways: altering relationships with large South American powers, supporting leftwing governments in the region and establishing regional organizations and increased integration. However, the power acquired by the Venezuelan government and used to supplant its own influences for that of the U.S. comes from a contradictory relationship with the U.S. The contradictory nature of this relationship stems from the fact that while Venezuela supports the decline of U.S. influence and power in the region, Venezuelan power relies on access to U.S. markets to sell Venezuelan. Only through the stable sale of this petroleum does the Venezuelan government possess the capability of spreading its own influence through increasing regionalism and diminishing U.S. power.

Keywords

Petroleum Indsutry; Geopolitics; South America

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