Latin American Populism

Americas Syllabus Location Section 13: Latin American politics in the first half of the 20th Century Section 13: Latin American politics in the first half of the 20th Century Evolution of nationalism, indigenism, and populism Evolution of nationalism, indigenism, and populism Role of military Role of military Leaders, single-party states and populism: Vargas, Peron Leaders, single-party states and populism: Vargas, Peron Nature and effectiveness of dissent Nature and effectiveness of dissent

Characteristics of Populist

Outsider to traditional political elites Outsider to traditional political elites Legalistic in his or her approach to change Legalistic in his or her approach to change Spoke in nationalist terms Spoke in nationalist terms Believed in middle road between unbridled capitalism and communism Believed in middle road between unbridled capitalism and communism Advocated a strongly interventionist role for the state in the national economy Advocated a strongly interventionist role for the state in the national economy Branded elites as the “oligarchy” and condemned them for their selfishness and lack of foresight Branded elites as the “oligarchy” and condemned them for their selfishness and lack of foresight Condemned imperialism in moralistic terms Condemned imperialism in moralistic terms

Was frequently branded as “fascist” by opponents Was frequently branded as “fascist” by opponents Was a charismatic figure of great personal magnetism and superior oratorical skills Was a charismatic figure of great personal magnetism and superior oratorical skills Enjoyed paternalistic relationships with their followers Enjoyed paternalistic relationships with their followers Stressed the immorality of the status quo Stressed the immorality of the status quo Studied the oratory and ideology of European dictators Studied the oratory and ideology of European dictators Believed that massive social transformations could be effected through existing structures through peaceful reform Believed that massive social transformations could be effected through existing structures through peaceful reform

Appealed to lower class and lower middle class voters affected by uneven or cyclical development Appealed to lower class and lower middle class voters affected by uneven or cyclical development Lacked a systemic approach to political economy, viewing it as a function of the interaction between “good” and “evil” social groups Lacked a systemic approach to political economy, viewing it as a function of the interaction between “good” and “evil” social groups A populist’s strength rested on his or her strength of personality rather than party organization A populist’s strength rested on his or her strength of personality rather than party organization

Early Populism in South America Two phases of populism Two phases of populism First phase is called the “reformist phase” and takes place before the Great Depression First phase is called the “reformist phase” and takes place before the Great Depression Second phase began in the late 1930s “Classic Populism” Second phase began in the late 1930s “Classic Populism” By the 1960s a series of military coups had brought an end to the populist era By the 1960s a series of military coups had brought an end to the populist era A resurgence of populism is taking place in Latin America A resurgence of populism is taking place in Latin America

Reformist Populist Leaders generally addressed: Leaders generally addressed: Voter rights and elections Voter rights and elections Nationalism Nationalism Labor relations Labor relations Built movements on broad agreement around these ideas Built movements on broad agreement around these ideas Votes for early populist came from all social classes Votes for early populist came from all social classes Their strategy was to reform society in order to protect it from the radicals Their strategy was to reform society in order to protect it from the radicals

Examples of Reformist Populists Jose Batlle y Ordonez - Uruguay Jose Batlle y Ordonez - Uruguay Hipolito Yrigoyen - Argentina Hipolito Yrigoyen - Argentina Arturo Alessandri - Chile Arturo Alessandri - Chile Some foundation for their ideas grew out of Spanish liberalism (Hispanismo) which drew from ideas of German Karl Christian Fredrich Krause (Krausismo) Some foundation for their ideas grew out of Spanish liberalism (Hispanismo) which drew from ideas of German Karl Christian Fredrich Krause (Krausismo)

Krausismo Alternative to positivism and Social Darwinism Alternative to positivism and Social Darwinism Uplifting less fortunate Uplifting less fortunate Education at all levels Education at all levels Womens rights Womens rights Labor unions Labor unions International law as basis for peace International law as basis for peace Valued ethical behavior and appreciation of culture over material success Valued ethical behavior and appreciation of culture over material success

Classic Populism Political economy dominated the agenda Political economy dominated the agenda Urbanization and industrialization lead to increased populations in the cities Urbanization and industrialization lead to increased populations in the cities Working class voters now outnumbered rural voters Working class voters now outnumbered rural voters Approached through labor unions and associations Approached through labor unions and associations Populist leaders appealed to these voters by offering larger share of national income and jobs Populist leaders appealed to these voters by offering larger share of national income and jobs Programs were nationalistic, pledged to end economic dependency Programs were nationalistic, pledged to end economic dependency

Populist challenged the entrenched power structures Populist challenged the entrenched power structures Church Church Army Army Landed elite Landed elite Bankers Bankers Foreign investors Foreign investors Traditional parties Traditional parties The question was how would these groups respond The question was how would these groups respond

Early cooperation between populist and establishment (benefited from each other) Early cooperation between populist and establishment (benefited from each other) First nonviolent mass movements in the region’s history First nonviolent mass movements in the region’s history As long as populist leaders did not threaten existing power holders they prospered and gave Latin American politics a modern face As long as populist leaders did not threaten existing power holders they prospered and gave Latin American politics a modern face By the mid 1950s populist began to upset older elites By the mid 1950s populist began to upset older elites Army, church, industrialists Army, church, industrialists

Examples of Classic Populists Lazaro Cardenas - Mexico Lazaro Cardenas - Mexico Getulio Vargas - Brazil Getulio Vargas - Brazil Juan Peron - Argentina Juan Peron - Argentina Haya de la Torre - Peru Haya de la Torre - Peru Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra - Ecuador Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra - Ecuador Romulo Betancourt - Venezuela Romulo Betancourt - Venezuela Victor Paz Estenssoro - Bolivia Victor Paz Estenssoro - Bolivia Jorge Eliecer Gaitan - Colombia Jorge Eliecer Gaitan - Colombia Jose “Pepe” Figueres Ferrer - Costa Rica Jose “Pepe” Figueres Ferrer - Costa Rica