Episode Details

On Argentina's historic election.   Historian of populism and anti-populism Ernesto Seman tells us what is happening in Argentina amidst severe economic crisis. The radical libertarian madman Javier Milei failed to win, and a second-round runoff will be needed, but politics has changed irreparably. The establishment right has been outflanked, while the left-populism of 'Kirchnerismo' is in crisis.   We discuss:

• What is 'Peronism' and how does it occupy so much political space?
• How does Milei appeal to informal workers using market ideology?
• What is distinct about Latin American populism?
• How is anti-populism used to denigrate the masses?
• What is the role of nostalgia for the golden age in Argentina?

Reading:

• In Chile and Argentina, anti-populist politics is failing, Ernesto Seman, FT
• Breve historia del antipopulismo (Brief History of Antipopulism), Ernesto Seman
• Ambassadors of the Working Class, Ernesto Seman
• Javier Milei is not done yet, Alex Hochuli, Unherd
• Javier Milei is not a South American Trump, Alex Hochuli, Unherd

Links:

• /367/ Don’t Pay Them Back ft. Jerome Roos
• /189/ Pink Tide Paradoxes ft. Fabio Luis
• /93/ Hot Chile and Other Neoliberal Failures ft. Pablo Pryluka