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Abstract

This research article compares how the public images of Venezuela and Mexico have been shaped by the presidential election cycle of 2012 in each country. The results show that political leaders in both countries seem much more concerned about domestic issues rather than projecting a more positive public diplomacy image. The paper focuses on the history and political culture of both countries, which inevitably frames how both dealt with negative international impressions resulting from the elections. Although Venezuela has had many more demonstrations of national plebiscites and elections than any other Latin American country during the era of President Hugo Chavez, the paper explores how the president's autocratic tendencies may have affected the image- making connected to the most recent elections. Likewise, the paper explores the political history of Mexico's PRT, the country's oldest political party, and how its ties to corruption and tainted elections also affected the most recent contest. The paper also explores these opportunities for altering public diplomacy in the context of modern Latin America where other countries have taken the lead in the public diplomacy arena, despite the influence of both Mexico and Venezuela.

ISSN

2325-8543

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