The recipe for populist leaders in LATAM
- giuliasaporito10
- Jan 28
- 1 min read
Updated: Feb 25
In Latin America, populism thrives on a powerful brew of charismatic leaders, anti-politics rhetoric, and revolutionary change promises. Leaders use some common strategies as can be seen in Venezuela with Hugo Chávez or Nicolás Maduro, in El Salvador with Nayib Bukele, and Argentina with Javier Milei who mobilize citizens that are disillusioned with corruption, poverty, and institutional breakdown. Though they have different ideologies—ranging from Chávez's left-wing socialism to Milei's extreme right-wing policies—populists have similar strategies: attacking elites, organizing the masses, and positioning themselves as saviors of economic crises.
Chávez surfed Venezuela's economic crisis into office, creating a populist legacy continued by Maduro in the form of hyperinflation and emigration. Bukele, though, with his law-and-order and anti-corruption platform, also warps democratic expectations and continuous to enjoy popular support. Milei, with his bombastic rhetoric and radical economic reform, resonates in Argentina's unstable economy. These politicians redefine political expectations, leveraging personal ties to the people to reshape the government, though many times creating concern about democracy and authoritarians in the region.
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