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Unarmed Utopia Revisited: The Resurgence of Left‐of‐Centre Politics in Latin America

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  • Francisco Panizza

Abstract

This paper seeks to examine the extent to which left‐wing forces are making a comeback in Latin America and to draw out the political implications of their political ascendancy. It argues that while left‐of‐centre parties have developed a persuasive critique of the failures of liberal democracy and economic neoliberalism in the region, there is as yet no conceptual clarity or distinct policy initiatives materialising from the left's promises of deepening democracy and implementing an alternative economic model. When in power, left‐of‐centre parties have followed a strategy of ‘bending and moulding’ existing political institutions and the free‐market economic model rather than attempting radical political and economic reforms. This paper concludes that left‐of‐centre parties are right in accepting that there is little room in the region for an anti‐systemic model and that instead the emphasis should be placed on making states, markets and democracy work better to secure development, address social demands and attack the root causes of discrimination and inequality. But leaving behind old certainties and adapting to the new political and economic environment has come at the cost of a loss of intellectual confidence, ideological clarity and weakened identities.

Suggested Citation

  • Francisco Panizza, 2005. "Unarmed Utopia Revisited: The Resurgence of Left‐of‐Centre Politics in Latin America," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 53(4), pages 716-734, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:polstu:v:53:y:2005:i:4:p:716-734
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9248.2005.00553.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rudiger Dornbusch & Sebastian Edwards, 1991. "The Macroeconomics of Populism in Latin America," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number dorn91-1.
    2. Margaret Canovan, 1999. "Trust the People! Populism and the Two Faces of Democracy," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 47(1), pages 2-16, March.
    3. Rudiger Dornbusch & Sebastian Edwards, 1991. "The Macroeconomics of Populism," NBER Chapters, in: The Macroeconomics of Populism in Latin America, pages 7-13, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Paul W. Miller & Jonathan J. Pincus, 2010. "Introduction," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 86(s1), pages 1-1, September.
    5. John Williamson, 1994. "The Political Economy of Policy Reform," Peterson Institute Press: All Books, Peterson Institute for International Economics, number 68, January.
    6. Rudiger Dornbusch & Sebastian Edwards, 1991. "Introduction to "The Macroeconomics of Populism in Latin America"," NBER Chapters, in: The Macroeconomics of Populism in Latin America, pages 1-4, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Francisco Panizza, 2007. "Parties, Democracy and Grounded Utopias: A Reply to Sara Motta," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 55(4), pages 885-892, December.
    2. Pepita Ould Ahmed, 2018. "Politics within Complementary Currency Systems: The Case Study of Barter Clubs in Argentina," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 50(4), pages 773-792, December.
    3. Sara Motta, 2006. "Utopias Re‐imagined: A Reply to Panizza," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 54(4), pages 898-905, December.

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