Herman analyzes the evolution, history, ideological development, and internal structure of the Christian Democratic party of Venezuela from the end of the Gomez dictatorship (1935) to the present. This is also the first in-depth study of the government of former President Caldera--a time in which Venezuela's primary natural resource, petroleum, began to play the enormous economic, industrial, and political role that it continues to play today.Originally published 1980.A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.