- Published: December 30, 2021
- Updated: December 30, 2021
- University / College: University of Virginia
- Level: Masters
- Language: English
- Downloads: 8
Chile: From populism to Democratic Socialism Populism is a system which is characterized by paternalistic and personalistic, which often depend on top bottom mobilization as well as charismatic leadership. (Lederman, Daniel, 24) By the end of 1980s, there was some fear that there would be unleashing of populism. This propagated fear that populism would result into destabilization as well as increase in inflationary campaigns directed towards mass mobilization and redistribution. These fears however were never realized since populism failed to take place in Chile.
Much as there were attempt to have populism in Chile, the system failed mostly because of failure of the charismatic aspect of the system. Chile was marred with a lot of Europeanization and institutionalization of political parties. (Lederman, Daniel, 27) The ideological gaps were subsequently filled by the emergence of those organizations that were determined to do away with the ideologies of Gen. Augusto Pinochet Urgarte. Rather than been involved into political parties through the ideologist, the Chilean systematically found themselves involved with democratization specifically the working class.
Study reveal that the appearance of populism was systematic and always did that in partial form. Mostly it came about through leadership style, as a redistributive program or as a multiclass collision. Several individuals have been associated with the move from populism to social democratization. One of these individuals was Arturo Alessandri Palma, particularly through his role, where he pioneered a demagogic crusade among the working class promising them of redemption. Alesandri eventually managed to be the president of Chile where he advanced the democratic socialism among the masses. (Lederman, Daniel, 40)
In 1938, Carlos Ibanez got to power with the Chilean Nazis, also known as National Social Movement. Ibanez had managed to bring populist together, which was later utilized by Frei of Christian Democratic Party.
Work Cited
Lederman, Daniel. The political economy of protection theory and the Chilean experience. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 2005. Print.