Politics and Protest- Latin American Studies Minor Revision Summary
Latin American Studies Week 2 Lecture 1
Since 2000
We have seen some big socio-political changes
Many states became under control of progressive governments and leader this is coined ‘The
New Left’ in comparison to the ‘Old Left’ of revolutionary leaders in the mid-20 th century
These new governments rejected neoliberalism
At this time, there was less of an interest in LA from the US, therefore there was more room for
manoeuvre
There was more regional cooperation, and more of a solidarity network i.e. ALBA
The Pink Tide came to an end a few years ago from 2015 in Argentina and Chile two businessmen
became Presidents
Since 2015
There is a mix of protests from both sides, almost simultaneously
Change in politics to the New Right
Regional cooperation began to fade, and there was a different atmosphere of international
recognition with the presidency of Donald Trump
Inequality in Latin America
CELAC = Latin American and Caribbean Union
Why did inequality enter the political agenda? people striving for equality were elected, and
many (like Lula from Brazil) experienced first-hand poverty in LA
In the run up to his presidency in 2002, there were increasing risks for international investors
Coup against Salvador Allende 1973
He was overthrown by a military coup after only 3 years of presidency
Allende became a symbol of a politician fighting against inequality in his last address he always
held a positive message
Social Inequality
From the 1960s until the 2000s not much changed in terms of income
1% of the people own 40%-50% of the land
Wealth is distributed very unevenly
There is mass overcrowding of the populations into small houses – with three generations often
living under one roof
Most women have a salary that is below the minimum wage
, Economic and social inequality as a political problem
In the 19th century, the economic elite was in power (oligarchy) and this lasted for centuries before
Oligarchies are a threat to unity and good governance, and they are more prone to aggression by the
rich against the poor it can result in resistance and disorder
Political culture
Strong hierarchies and relations of dependency create mechanisms of establishing leadership and
political bonds:
- Authoritarianism
- Caudillismo
- Patrimonialism
- Centralism
- Populism
- Clientelism
- Co-optation
There would then be a difficult political-cultural environment for citizens to express their true needs
Political changes in 20th century
A: Early 20th century personalist dictators and oligarchic democracies
B: 1930s – 1950s (traditional populism) democratization and populism (anti-oligarchic discourse)
C: 1960s – 1970s populism, growing resistance
D: 1980s – 1990s Neo-populism
From the 1930s-1950s, the traditional phase of populism concentrated on modernization and
industrialisation against the standards of Europe but there was a strive to prevent a socialist
revolution by partly appeasing the public through social welfare schemes
The Populist recipe
Anti-elite wanted to unite workers with the middle class
Had control over worker’s unions
They felt there was a strong urge in society to move away from unequal situations so they
created this Third Way in between socialism and capitalism
Juan Peron in Argentina rose to power after the Great Depression and urged for a new development
model that stressed social welfare he became more popular than any other Argentinian minister
at the time
In many of these countries in the 40s/50s/60s larger numbers of citizens could vote but you had to
be able to read and write – leaving out a large percentage of the electorate
At this time of traditional populism there was a push for ‘controlled change’, not to incite revolution
but to try and achieve some level of social harmony
Latin American Studies Week 2 Lecture 1
Since 2000
We have seen some big socio-political changes
Many states became under control of progressive governments and leader this is coined ‘The
New Left’ in comparison to the ‘Old Left’ of revolutionary leaders in the mid-20 th century
These new governments rejected neoliberalism
At this time, there was less of an interest in LA from the US, therefore there was more room for
manoeuvre
There was more regional cooperation, and more of a solidarity network i.e. ALBA
The Pink Tide came to an end a few years ago from 2015 in Argentina and Chile two businessmen
became Presidents
Since 2015
There is a mix of protests from both sides, almost simultaneously
Change in politics to the New Right
Regional cooperation began to fade, and there was a different atmosphere of international
recognition with the presidency of Donald Trump
Inequality in Latin America
CELAC = Latin American and Caribbean Union
Why did inequality enter the political agenda? people striving for equality were elected, and
many (like Lula from Brazil) experienced first-hand poverty in LA
In the run up to his presidency in 2002, there were increasing risks for international investors
Coup against Salvador Allende 1973
He was overthrown by a military coup after only 3 years of presidency
Allende became a symbol of a politician fighting against inequality in his last address he always
held a positive message
Social Inequality
From the 1960s until the 2000s not much changed in terms of income
1% of the people own 40%-50% of the land
Wealth is distributed very unevenly
There is mass overcrowding of the populations into small houses – with three generations often
living under one roof
Most women have a salary that is below the minimum wage
, Economic and social inequality as a political problem
In the 19th century, the economic elite was in power (oligarchy) and this lasted for centuries before
Oligarchies are a threat to unity and good governance, and they are more prone to aggression by the
rich against the poor it can result in resistance and disorder
Political culture
Strong hierarchies and relations of dependency create mechanisms of establishing leadership and
political bonds:
- Authoritarianism
- Caudillismo
- Patrimonialism
- Centralism
- Populism
- Clientelism
- Co-optation
There would then be a difficult political-cultural environment for citizens to express their true needs
Political changes in 20th century
A: Early 20th century personalist dictators and oligarchic democracies
B: 1930s – 1950s (traditional populism) democratization and populism (anti-oligarchic discourse)
C: 1960s – 1970s populism, growing resistance
D: 1980s – 1990s Neo-populism
From the 1930s-1950s, the traditional phase of populism concentrated on modernization and
industrialisation against the standards of Europe but there was a strive to prevent a socialist
revolution by partly appeasing the public through social welfare schemes
The Populist recipe
Anti-elite wanted to unite workers with the middle class
Had control over worker’s unions
They felt there was a strong urge in society to move away from unequal situations so they
created this Third Way in between socialism and capitalism
Juan Peron in Argentina rose to power after the Great Depression and urged for a new development
model that stressed social welfare he became more popular than any other Argentinian minister
at the time
In many of these countries in the 40s/50s/60s larger numbers of citizens could vote but you had to
be able to read and write – leaving out a large percentage of the electorate
At this time of traditional populism there was a push for ‘controlled change’, not to incite revolution
but to try and achieve some level of social harmony
