Populism and Democracy in Latin America: Responses, Impacts, and Citizen Attitudes

This panel examines the multifaceted relationship between populism and democracy in Latin America, focusing on both left and right oriented populist leaders. Leveraging public opinion surveys and comprehensive datasets, the panel studies three main topics. First, it explores the impact of populism on democratic institutions, assessing whether populist diffusion of misinformation contributes to undermine democratic norms and practices. Second, the panel analyzes how populist leaders have responded to crises. Particular attention is paid to approaches to handling the COVID-19 pandemic, considering to which extent populist leaders used the health crisis to consolidate power or implement populist policies. Finally, the panel delves into the political attitudes of citizens living under populist governments, both historically and today, with a focus on views related to the economy and democracy. By comparing these attitudes across different countries and time periods, the papers aim to provide insights into how populist governance affects public trust in democratic institutions and economic expectations. Together, the panel’s findings contribute to a broader understanding of populism’s diverse manifestations in Latin America and its consequences for democratic resilience and citizen engagement.