Date of Graduation

5-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

International and Global Studies

Advisor/Mentor

Phillips, Jared

Committee Member

Starks, Trish

Second Committee Member

Ryan, Jeffrey

Third Committee Member

Dowdle, Andrew

Abstract

What happens to a country’s political culture once populism takes root? Have Global North-centered methods of evaluation miscategorized Global South political party identification both historically and contemporaneously? As the world grapples with the continued rise of populism and its divisive rhetoric, scholars must thoroughly examine the movement’s spheres of influence beyond traditionally accepted frameworks. Understanding populist parties is vital, for they oftentimes create staggering disruptions within a nation’s political culture. These disturbances become starkly apparent in times of crises as challenges plunge everyday citizens deeper into the political sphere. The case of Argentina allows for an examination of the ways in which populism has created a reality wherein ideology is no more than background noise in political clashes. By interrogating Argentina’s Peronist movement, its destabilization of Argentinian institutions and norms, and its ever-adaptable nature this research establishes a contextually-based method of understanding populist political identities. I argue that the right-left dichotomy is not constructive in describing socio-political environments wherein populism has become the dominant political narrative. The diversity, heterogeneity, and complexity of political realities in the Global South permit us to fruitfully revisit traditional views of an assumed left-right ideological spectrum.

Keywords

Populism; Argentina; Peronism; Political identification; History; Service learning

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