Amtliche Kurzform: Venezuela
Name in Landessprache:   
Kurzform: Venezuela  
Vollform: República Bolívariana de Venezuela
 
Name in Englisch: Venezuela
Ehemaliger Name: Republik Venezuela

Staatsgebiet: Das Land an der Nordküste Südamerikas, umfasst ein Staatsgebiet von 916.445 km² und hat eine etwa 2.800 km lange Küste. Damit ist Venezuela fast drei Mal so groß wie Deutschland. Die Staaten Brasilien, Kolumbien und Guyana grenzen an das Land.
 

CIA Background-Info Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, has promoted a controversial policy of "democratic socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalization and undermining regional stability. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.