Government-Mandated Open Source Development: The Case Study of Venezuela

Abstract

This research examines the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which because of high revenues from oil exports finds itself in the unique position of possessing the economic ability to support the development of an internal Information Economy. Simultaneously, The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has established two government ministries, those of Science and Technology and Telecommunications and Informatics, and developed national policies, which directly encourage the development of an internal information economy. As an example of these efforts, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has chosen to encourage, develop, and support the use of Open Source operating systems and software for all of its government agencies and affiliated partners. Since the country has recently moved to nationalize its largest industry, oil, and its telecommunications sector, this move to Open Source is more significant than it might have been in a country with a less centralized, socialist government. This project looks at the initiatives that the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is proposing. This research hopes to find how the use of Open Source as a governmental mandate in public offices stimulates the creation of human resources, new technologies, and ultimately the development of a country.

Keywords: Open Source Software, Open Source Development, National Policy, Venezuela, Latin America