Populism and Latin America.

In Search of a Theory to Explain Their Relationship (1961-1981)

Abstract

In 1973, Brazilian sociologist Octavio Ianni described populism as “one of the most important political, economic, and social phenomena in the history of Latin America.” His characterization referred to the political movements that emerged across the region following the 1930 crisis, such as Vargasism in Brazil and Peronism in Argentina. Ianni’s statement was part of a broader debate about the meaning and paths of change in Latin America. Could transformations comparable to those experienced by Europe after industrialization be expected? Should change come through revolution, as in the case of Cuba, or through a reformist transition that remained within the boundaries of capitalism? What political form would such a process take, and which social actors would be capable of leading it? These questions were soon joined by others: What kind of change could populism make possible? Could it constitute an unconventional path toward socialism or, conversely, the ultimate obstacle to imagining it as a horizon? This article reconstructs some of the most significant answers proposed by Argentine and Brazilian intellectuals between 1961 and the early 1980s—a period that stands out as a decisive stage in the theorization of “classical populism.”