Los efectos del populismo en las relaciones internacionales de Suramérica

Abstract

From the beginning of the 20th century, populism arrived in the South American region as an apparent solution to socio-economic inequalities and to put an end to the monopoly that the elites had when controlling the governments of the southern nations of the American continent. This way of doing politics came through leaders who came from the middle classes mainly, who were fed up with the injustices and the oblivion in which the working classes and peasants were on the part of excluding and inefficient governments, commonly called oligarchy. These leaders were seen by the masses as a kind of messiah who came to rescue them from oblivion in which they were and to lead them towards the struggle for their rights against the corrupt oligarchy. Their direct contact with the populations, their charisma and the lack of confidence on the part of the people towards the state institutions catapulted these populist leaders towards the executive power of the nations. While these leaders complied with improving the well-being and representation of citizens, it must also be clear that some of these leaders have acted contrary to what the Constitution establishes motivated to carry out their objectives, in many cases with conflict of interests and legitimizing these maneuvers as part of the will of the people. Many of these actions have affected the international relations of the countries with their neighbors and with their global allies, favoring or weakening the attempts of cooperation and regional integration of the South American countries with the rest of the world.