"Part of a comparative project studying violence in Andean countries organized by the Asociación Peruana de Estudios para la Paz, this empirical study explores violence in various social contexts and institutions. Examines the culture of violence, violence and the State and political system, role of the communications media, and drugs. Includes a case study of a Caracas barrio. Concludes that various forms of violence have significantly increased as Venezuelan institutions have lost both legitimacy and a capacity to provide resources supportive of civil society"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 57.