Corruption and Democracy: Comparative Dynamics of Uruguay and Venezuela

Abstract

This thesis examines the dynamics of corruption and its impact on democracy in Uruguay and Venezuela. It focuses specifically on how these nations differ in their approaches to handling corruption. By analyzing their recent political history within the context of corruption and democratic stability, the study employs multidimensional, analytical, and comparative methods to find and explore these differences. In that process, this thesis establishes a theoretical framework that defines corruption and democracy, acknowledging their complex nature. Assuming that corruption has a destructive effect on democracy, the research delves into various scholarly sources and investigates how different types of corruption undermine political institutions and processes, and thus weakening the stability of democratic governance. With a mixed- method approach and a combination of secondary source analysis and contextual case studies of Uruguay and Venezuela, the study then presents the patterns of corruption's impact in each country, particularly the mechanisms through which corruption perpetuates and worsens democratic weak points, contributing to political deterioration and distrust of the society towards the government. Ultimately, the thesis seeks to present nuanced patterns of corruption's impact in each country, offering insights into the pathways through which corruption undermines democratic structures and fosters political decay.