Investigation PlanVenezuela was near the end of a period of more than 30 years of stable democratic rule. In February 1988, President Pérez was elected for his second term. Venezuela had an export economy that depended heavily on high international oil prices; In the 1980s, there was a decline in oil prices which put a strain on the government's public spending. The economy was on the verge of collapse, leading to a widening economic divide in the country as well as the military. There were also widespread suspicions of corruption within the government, led by President Pérez. How did the two failed coup attempts in 1992 led by Hugo Chavez help his political career? This investigation will answer the question by analyzing the outcome of the two failed coups; first, the coups exposed the corruption, failures and weakness of President Pérez and his government; Second, the coups presented the Venezuelan people with the image of a dynamic, charismatic and populist leader in the person of Chavez. The most important sources used will be contemporary press articles, Chavez's speech and the reactions of ordinary Venezuelans of the time. This investigation will only evaluate the period between 1990 and 1998 in order to account for Chavez's accession to power. interrupted civilian democratic rule from 1958 to 1992; With the exception of a few minor coup attempts in the early 1960s, the country's elected leaders managed to maintain a loyal military and democratic government in place. Venezuela has one of the largest oil reserves in the world, so they were heavily dependent on high oil prices in the international market for their export. When the prize ...... middle of paper ......tions of 1999 when he won with his political group, the PSUV.Works CitedBarbukin, Sergei. "The 1992 coup attempts in Venezuela: causes and failures". JPMS: Journal of Political and Military Sociology 27, no. 1 (1999): 141. The New York Times. "Venezuela crushes army coup attempt - New York Times." The New York Times - Breaking news, world news and multimedia. ^ Richard Lapper. “Venezuela and the Rise of Chavez: A Basic Discussion Paper.” » Council on Foreign Relations. Last edited on November 22, 2005. http://www.cfr.org/venezuela/venezuela-rise-chavez-background-discussion-paper/p9269 ““Por Ahora” Hugo Chávez February 4, 1992 (with English subtitles) » YouTube video, 1:10, posted by “fobioh”, Last modified: March 27, 2009, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKcoFPsoKLU