Populist Seduction In Latin America: The Ecuadorian Experience (Ohio RIS Latin America Series)

Is Latin America experiencing a resurgence of leftwing governments, or are we seeing a rebirth of national-radical populism? Are the governments of Hugo Chávez, Evo Morales, and Rafael Correa becoming institutionalized as these leaders claim novel models of participatory and direct democracy? Or are they reenacting older traditions that have favored plebiscitary acclamation and clientelist distribution of resources to loyal followers? Are we seeing authentic forms of expression of the popular will by leaders who have empowered those previously disenfranchised? Or are these governments as charismatic, authoritarian, and messianic as their populist predecessors? This new and expanded edition of Populist Seduction in Latin America explores the ambiguous relationships between democracy and populism and brings de la Torre’s earlier work up to date, comparing classical nationalist, populist regimes of the 1940s, such as those of Juan Perón and José María Velasco Ibarra, with their contemporary neoliberal and radical successors. De la Torre explores their similarities and differences, focusing on their discourses and uses of political symbols and myths. A new brand of populist politicians has risen to power in the late 1980s and 90s. They have kept the Manichaean and moralistic populist discourse of their predecessors while pursuing different economic programs. The old nationalist and distributive policies of past populist regimes have been replaced by neoliberal policies that have privatized state enterprises, eliminated protective tariffs, and concentrated income. In Populist Seduction in Latin America, Carlos de la Torre shows that populism did not disappear, as expected, with the modernization of society. Combining the study of populist discourse with an analysis of the social and political setting for the emergence and persistence of populism, de la Torre argues that the durability of populism is explained by the deficient incorporation of the popular sector's into Latin American democracies. "In Populist Seduction in Latin America, Carlos de la Torre shows that populism did not disappear, as expected, with the modernization of society. Combining the study of populist discourse with an analysis of the social and political setting for the emergence and persistence of populism. Professor de la Torre argues that the durability of populism is explained by the deficient incorporation of the popular sectors into Latin American democracies."--BOOK JACKET.