Populism is one of the most polysemic concepts in social sciences. If during most of the twentieth century, it referred to a mostly Latin American experience, in recent times it came to describe a more European-right wing experience. Indeed, European populism and Latin American populism share some common features but also have significant differences due to their historical, cultural, and socio-economic contexts. While European populism often emerges in developed democracies with established institutions, Latin American populism has historical roots in post-colonial struggles and often arises in countries with a history of economic inequality, social upheaval, and weak institutions. Hence, while in Europe populist parties tend to focus on issues related to immigration, national identity, and anti-EU sentiment, Latin American populism stresses economic issues, land reform, and social justice. These differences have impacted in many dimensions, such as economic programmes, rural vs. urban cleavages and leadership styles.
This talk will give an overview of the differences between both definitions and will offer a survey on the current situation of the current labelled populist governments (Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico and Venezuela), and discuss the potential trajectories of populist governments in the region, considering electoral cycles, economic trends, and social dynamics. The event will take the form of a panel discussion where Professor Juan Negri will open the discussion with a keynote on the issue and it will be followed by an open Q&A session.
Prof. Negri is the Academic Director of the BA in Political Science and International Studies at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, which is a partner university of the STG and a very prestigious institution in Latin America. On an academic level, Prof. Negri is a well-known political scientist in Latin America, whose expertise on Latin American politics and institutions is greatly recognised in academia.
The event is organised by the Latin American Focus Group. All are welcome to attend. Please register, indicating if you will participate in presence or online.