The Relationship Between Populism and Democracy: Cases From Latin America

Year 2019, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 428 - 444, 29.09.2019

Ayfer Genç Yılmaz

https://doi.org/10.14782/ipsus.623238

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Latin America, as a region, reflects a relevant field of analysis for scholars who aim at working populism.

Here, in this region of the world, it is possible to encounter various types of populism(s). Additionally,

throughout the history of Latin America, populist leaders have managed to accumulate political

power for decades. This study, in its turn, aims at analyzing the relationship between populism and

democracy. It suggests analyzing populism as a political style prioritizing the central role of populist

leaders. In this perspective, it overviews a historical analysis of different Latin American countries

where various types of populism were in power. In this respect, the study of the classical populism of

Peron in Argentina, the right-wing populism of Fujimori in Peru and the left-wing populism of Chavez

in Venezuela demonstrate that the relationship between democracy and “various” populisms remains

almost the same. Populism, in general, enlarges inclusionary capacities of democratic regimes while

giving permanent harm to democratic institutions, constitutional mechanisms of control and liberal

democracy in general.

Keywords

populism, democracy, Mexico, Argentina, Peru

Popülizm-Demokrasi İlişkisi: Latin Amerika’dan Örnekler

Abstract

Latin Amerika, popülizm çalışan araştırmacılar açısından önemli bir araştırma alanı olarak ortaya

çıkıyor. Dünyanın bu bölgesinde, popülizmin farklı türlerine rasgelmek mümkün. Üstelik Latin

Amerika’da, tarih boyunca, popülist liderlerin siyasal gücü ele geçirmeyi başardıkları söylenebilir.

Elinizdeki çalışma, popülizm ve demokrasi arasındaki çatışmalı ilişkiyi incelemek niyetindedir.

Bunu yaparken popülizm bir siyasal tarz olarak ve liderin merkezi rolüne referansla tanımlanacaktır.

Bu doğrultuda, Arjantin’de Peron dönemi klasik popülizmi, Peru’da Fujimori’nin sağ popülizmi ve

nihayetinde Venezüella’da Chavez’in sol popülizminin analizinin göstereceği üzere demokrasi ve

popülizm ilişkisi farklı popülizmlerin varlığına rağmen büyük ölçüde aynı kalmıştır. Bu doğrultuda

denilebilir ki popülizm, demokrasinin içerici kapasitesini artırmış, buna karşın, anayasal denetim

mekanizmalarına, demokratik kurumlara ve genel anlamda liberal demokrasiye zarar vermiştir.

Keywords

popülizm, demokrasi, Meksika, Arjantin, Peru

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