Latin American Latin American PopulismPopulism

Americas Syllabus LocationAmericas Syllabus Location

Section 13: Latin American politics in the Section 13: Latin American politics in the first half of the 20th Centuryfirst half of the 20th Century Evolution of nationalism, indigenism, and Evolution of nationalism, indigenism, and

populismpopulism Role of militaryRole of military Leaders, single-party states and populism: Leaders, single-party states and populism:

Vargas, PeronVargas, Peron Nature and effectiveness of dissentNature and effectiveness of dissent

Characteristics of Populist Characteristics of Populist

Outsider to traditional political elitesOutsider to traditional political elites Legalistic in his or her approach to changeLegalistic in his or her approach to change Spoke in nationalist termsSpoke in nationalist terms Believed in middle road between unbridled Believed in middle road between unbridled

capitalism and communismcapitalism and communism Advocated a strongly interventionist role for Advocated a strongly interventionist role for

the state in the national economythe state in the national economy Branded elites as the “oligarchy” and Branded elites as the “oligarchy” and

condemned them for their selfishness and condemned them for their selfishness and lack of foresightlack of foresight

Condemned imperialism in moralistic termsCondemned imperialism in moralistic terms

Was frequently branded as “fascist” by Was frequently branded as “fascist” by opponentsopponents

Was a charismatic figure of great personal Was a charismatic figure of great personal magnetism and superior oratorical skillsmagnetism and superior oratorical skills

Enjoyed paternalistic relationships with their Enjoyed paternalistic relationships with their followersfollowers

Stressed the immorality of the status quoStressed the immorality of the status quo Studied the oratory and ideology of Studied the oratory and ideology of

European dictatorsEuropean dictators Believed that massive social Believed that massive social

transformations could be effected through transformations could be effected through existing structures through peaceful reformexisting structures through peaceful reform

Appealed to lower class and lower middle Appealed to lower class and lower middle class voters affected by uneven or cyclical class voters affected by uneven or cyclical developmentdevelopment

Lacked a systemic approach to political Lacked a systemic approach to political economy, viewing it as a function of the economy, viewing it as a function of the interaction between “good” and “evil” social interaction between “good” and “evil” social groupsgroups

A populist’s strength rested on his or her A populist’s strength rested on his or her strength of personality rather than party strength of personality rather than party organizationorganization

Early Populism in South Early Populism in South AmericaAmerica

Two phases of populismTwo phases of populism First phase is called the “reformist phase” and First phase is called the “reformist phase” and

takes place before the Great Depressiontakes place before the Great Depression Second phase began in the late 1930s “Classic Second phase began in the late 1930s “Classic

Populism”Populism” By the 1960s a series of military coups had By the 1960s a series of military coups had

brought an end to the populist erabrought an end to the populist era A resurgence of populism is taking place in A resurgence of populism is taking place in

Latin America Latin America

Reformist PopulistReformist Populist Leaders generally addressed:Leaders generally addressed:

Voter rights and electionsVoter rights and elections NationalismNationalism Labor relationsLabor relations

Built movements on broad agreement around Built movements on broad agreement around these ideasthese ideas

Votes for early populist came from all social Votes for early populist came from all social classesclasses

Their strategy was to reform society in order Their strategy was to reform society in order to protect it from the radicalsto protect it from the radicals

Examples of Reformist Examples of Reformist PopulistsPopulists

Jose Batlle y Ordonez - UruguayJose Batlle y Ordonez - Uruguay Hipolito Yrigoyen - ArgentinaHipolito Yrigoyen - Argentina Arturo Alessandri - ChileArturo Alessandri - Chile Some foundation for their ideas grew Some foundation for their ideas grew

out of Spanish liberalism (Hispanismo) out of Spanish liberalism (Hispanismo) which drew from ideas of German Karl which drew from ideas of German Karl Christian Fredrich Krause (Krausismo)Christian Fredrich Krause (Krausismo)

KrausismoKrausismo Alternative to positivism and Social Alternative to positivism and Social

DarwinismDarwinism Uplifting less fortunateUplifting less fortunate Education at all levelsEducation at all levels Womens rightsWomens rights Labor unionsLabor unions International law as basis for peaceInternational law as basis for peace Valued ethical behavior and appreciation of Valued ethical behavior and appreciation of

culture over material successculture over material success

Classic PopulismClassic Populism Political economy dominated the agendaPolitical economy dominated the agenda Urbanization and industrialization lead to Urbanization and industrialization lead to

increased populations in the citiesincreased populations in the cities Working class voters now outnumbered rural Working class voters now outnumbered rural

votersvoters Approached through labor unions and Approached through labor unions and

associationsassociations Populist leaders appealed to these voters by Populist leaders appealed to these voters by

offering larger share of national income and jobsoffering larger share of national income and jobs Programs were nationalistic, pledged to end Programs were nationalistic, pledged to end

economic dependencyeconomic dependency

Populist challenged the entrenched Populist challenged the entrenched power structurespower structures ChurchChurch ArmyArmy Landed eliteLanded elite BankersBankers Foreign investors Foreign investors Traditional partiesTraditional parties

The question was how would these The question was how would these groups respond groups respond

Early cooperation between populist and Early cooperation between populist and establishment (benefited from each establishment (benefited from each other)other)

First nonviolent mass movements in the First nonviolent mass movements in the region’s historyregion’s history

As long as populist leaders did not As long as populist leaders did not threaten existing power holders they threaten existing power holders they prospered and gave Latin American prospered and gave Latin American politics a modern facepolitics a modern face

By the mid 1950s populist began to By the mid 1950s populist began to upset older elitesupset older elites Army, church, industrialistsArmy, church, industrialists

Examples of Classic Examples of Classic PopulistsPopulists

Lazaro Cardenas - MexicoLazaro Cardenas - Mexico Getulio Vargas - BrazilGetulio Vargas - Brazil Juan Peron - ArgentinaJuan Peron - Argentina Haya de la Torre - PeruHaya de la Torre - Peru Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra - EcuadorJose Maria Velasco Ibarra - Ecuador Romulo Betancourt - VenezuelaRomulo Betancourt - Venezuela Victor Paz Estenssoro - BoliviaVictor Paz Estenssoro - Bolivia Jorge Eliecer Gaitan - ColombiaJorge Eliecer Gaitan - Colombia Jose “Pepe” Figueres Ferrer - Costa RicaJose “Pepe” Figueres Ferrer - Costa Rica