Exam Answers - Examples Poli 332

Populism Top-down, popular mobilization of the masses, by personalist leader, who challenges elites on the basis of appeals to an ill-defined “pueblo.” Historically associated with ISI (part of redistributive model linked to industrialization), but also neoliberal and radical variants (“Pink Tide”). Thus, no specific policy association necessary, nor mode of organization, but there is a “tool kit”. Significance: Populism often characterizes electoral democracy where social citizenship and participation are weak. -- Bonus points for saying Evo not a populist! No points off for saying he is :) Conditions that foster it: exclusion and institutional frailty (weak rule of law, weak citizenship, voters detached). Vulnerability to outsiders.

ISI ISI an economic strategy of inward-oriented growth. Began spontaneously with the collapse of the stock market in Then pursued as a policy involving tariffs and other import controls, subsidies, and overvalued exchange rates. Goal: create infant industries. Hurt exporters (esp. agriculture). Led to industrialization and urbanization as well as emergence of working class and the basis of populist politics. ISI experienced bottlenecks/problems. Significance: Infant industries never grow up (inefficient, rent-seeking, poor quality, not competitive). Did not pursue Asia strategy of export orientation. Exhaustion of ISI and political crises. Rise of BA states. Two stages: horizontal and vertical.

BA State Highly repressive and exclusionary institutional military regimes, involving technocratic roles (anti-political), alliance with local and transnational business. Emerged in 1960s and 1970s due to perception of threat caused by activation of labour and Cuban revolution. This led to the coup coalition. Pursued economic orthodoxy. Examples: Argentina ’66, ’76; Brazil ’64; Chile ’73; Uruguay ’74. Not Mexico (error in text). Rise of BA states linked to exhaustion of ISI in some cases, not all. Significance: Most industrially advanced Latin American cases; linked to populism and labour activation (ISI); where threat greatest, most repressive; breakdown led to redemocratization; borrowed heavily and contributed and incurred debt.

Competitive Authoritarianism Civilian, formally democratic regimes where there is unequal competition (abuse of power by incumbents generates disadvantages for opposition); these regimes are competitive but the competition is neither fair not fully free because of rights violations. Populism is a trigger due to: outsiders, electoral mandate to weaken established institutions, assault on HA. Significance: suggests step beyond DD – erosion of electoral democracy into hybrid forms. Populism.