Populism in Latin America

In the last two decades, Latin America has undergone substantial political, social and economic transformation however, many new democratically-elected governments appear to lack the ability to engender public support, promote social stability, or successfully manage a national economy. This paper will explore the phenomenon of populism in Latin America, taking into account the realities of inequitable wealth distribution, rampant corruption, the rise of indigenous movements, Latin American views on the states role in society, emerging norms for civil-military relationships, globalization trans-nationalist entities, and ubiquitous over-indebtedness. This paper will address the sudden rise of populist leadership in Latin nations, the changing relationships among moderate democracies in the region, and a growing ambivalence towards the U.S. and its perceived policies.