Midterm KEY CONCEPTS

Question 1

Radical populism

Answer 1

combines populist rhetoric with extreme positions
Examples: Hugo Chavez (Venezuela), Evo Morales (Bolivia), Alberto Fernandez (Argentina)

Question 2

Cumulative populism

Answer 2

builds support over time with incremental policy changes
Examples: Lula de Silva (Brazil), Rafael Correa (Ecuador), Nestor Kirchner (Argentina)

Question 3

Classical populism

Answer 3

focuses on the concerns of ordinary people and rejects political elites.
Examples: Juan Peron (Argentina), Getulio Vargas (Brazil), Lazaro Cardenas (Mexico)

Question 4

Conceptual stretching

Answer 4

refers to the overuse of the word “populism” to describe a wide range of political phenomena, which can lead to a diluted understanding of the concept.

Question 5

Conceptual confusion

Answer 5

refers to lack of clarity about what populism means, which can make it difficult to develop a coherent theory of populism that can be applied across different contexts. In Latin America, these issues have arisen due to the region’s complex political history, leading to ongoing debate among scholars about the definition and characteristics of populism.

Question 6

Delegative democracy:

Answer 6

Characterized by
o A strong and personalized executive
o Weak legislature
o Limited political parties and civil society participation
o A focus on direct democracy
o Limited accountability

Question 7

Competitive authoritarianism:

Answer 7

o Political system that appears democratic, but with significant limitations on political competition and civil liberties.
o Involves manipulation of the electoral process and media censorship and control
o Intimidation of opposition parties and civil society
o Political power is often held by a small elite or ruling party
o Limited accountability to the public.

Question 8

Empiricist approach to populism:

Answer 8

o Focuses on observable and measurable features of populist movements and leaders
o Uses empirical methods such as content analysis, surveys, and experiments to study populism
o Views populism as continuum, rather than a binary category
o Seeks to identify common features or patterns of populism across different cases and contexts

Question 9

Historicist definition:

Answer 9

focus on the socioeconomic structures of Latin American societies, particularly the presence of a large rural and urban proletariat, and view populism as a response to economic and social inequality.

Question 10

Institutional definition:

Answer 10

emphasize the role of political institutions in shaping populist movements and governments, particularly the executive branch and electoral systems.

Question 11

Sociological definition:

Answer 11

examine the cultural and symbolic dimensions of populism, particularly the role of charismatic leaders and mass mobilization.

Question 12

Economic populism:

Answer 12

o Focuses on economic policies and redistribution of wealth
o Often proposes policies such as nationalization, price controls, and increased social spending
o May challenge the power of traditional economic elites and advocate or greater economic participation by the masses

Question 13

Political populism:

Answer 13

o Focuses on the establishment of a strong leader who claims to represent the will of the people
o Often involves attacks on the traditional political establishments and the promotion of a charismatic leader who the embodies popular will
o May emphasize on the nationalism, anti-elitism, and anti-pluralism in the political sphere

Question 14

Leninist populist parties:

Answer 14

o Inspired by the ideas of Lenin
o Prioritize mobilization of the masses and the creation of the vanguard party to lead the people.
o View the ruling class as the enemy of the people and seek to overthrow them through revolution
o Emphasizes the need for a strong and centralized state that controls the means of production and distribution of resources
o Advocates for suppression of opposition and promotion of a single party system to achieve goals.

Question 15

APRISTA

Answer 15

o Emphasis on social justice, particularly in terms of improving the lives of the working class and promoting economic development.
o A focus on nationalism and anti-imperialism, often expressed through opposition to foreign interference in domestic politics and economic policies.
o A populist approach to politics that seeks to mobilize popular support through charismatic leadership, mass rallies and demonstrations, and appeals to popular sentiment.

Question 16

Examples on APRISTA movements/parties.

Answer 16

APRA is the most prominent example of an Aprista party. Revolutionary Nationalist Party (PNR) in Peru, the National Revolutionary Party (PRN) in Mexico, and the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) in Paraguay.

Question 17

Authoritarian populism:

Answer 17

is characterized by the concentration of power in the hands of a single leader or a small group of elites. This type of populism often relies on the use of force or intimidation to maintain control.
Examples: Juan Perón, Hugo Chávez, and Evo Morales

Question 18

Democratic populism:

Answer 18

on the other hand, emphasizes participation and representation, and aims to empower ordinary people through democratic institutions. This type of populism is less centralized and more decentralized and tends to emphasize pluralism and diversity.
Examples: Rafael Correa and Lula da Silva

Question 19

First wave

Answer 19

1929-1960s. Politicians took power while emphasising “the people”.

Question 20

Second wave

Answer 20

Early 1990s. In the late 1980s, many Latin American states were experiencing economic crisis and several populist figures were elected by blaming the elites for this situation.

Question 21

Third wave

Answer 21

End of 1990s and continued to the 21st century. Like the first wave, the third made heavy use of Americanismo and anti-imperialism, although this time these themes presented alongside an explicitly socialist program that opposed the free market.