Venezuelan, Mexican and Brazilian energy policies in the 1980s: A comparative analysis
Description
The energy industries of Venezuela, Mexico and Brazil have been analyzed in single case study form or in comparative fashion. However, authors have not used a combined comparative interdependence perspective in their analyses In a few words, interdependence theory holds the view that in the capitalist world where the United States is not anymore hegemonic, countries are forced to master the art of bargaining to achieve efficient interdependent relationships that serve their economic and political objectives. According to interdependence theory, countries--developed and developing--must be flexible to adapt their policies to junctural (temporary or structural (permanent)) changes that may occur in the world market. Otherwise, they would become vulnerable to these changes, and would incur in dangerous economic and political costs. Interdependence theory is revisited in the introduction of this dissertation Using a combined comparative and interdependence perspective, this dissertation examines separately--in case study form--the energy policies of Venezuela, Mexico and Brazil during the 1980s. In each case study the focus is on energy policy-making actors, policy debates, changes to policies and organizational aspects of the energy industries of these countries. Each case study (except for Venezuela, which is first) ends with a comparative concluding section The final chapter of the dissertation summarizes all previous partial conclusions drawn on the countries. This last chapter also includes the following information: (a) an analysis of oil dependence in the United States, other Western industrialized nations, Eastern European and developing countries; (b) a forecast on some possible changes to the oil market after the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq; and, (c) some suggestions on further interdependence research on energy issues