Courses

Within the context of the current social crisis in Nicolas Maduro’s Venezuela, and

the rise to power of far-right “populist” leaders such as Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, the

debate over the meaning of Latin America’s unique populist legacy has become ever

more intricate. This seminar explores the history, identity, and ideologies of Latin

America’s populist movements. Moving in chronological order, we will read an

assortment of historical analyses and primary sources to illuminate several different

aspects of this endemic political phenomenon. We will ask: What is populism and

what are its ideological origins and style? What are the populists’ economic,

political, and social goals? Do Latin America’s populists share the same world views,

and can they even be encapsulated within this one category? Should they be

considered rightists or leftists? Have they ever resorted to political violence, and if

so why?