Populism is a form of domination where the charismatic leader comes to power through democratic votes and then achieves a direct emotional affinity with broad sectors of the population, eventually weakening institutions, individual freedoms, the Republic, and democracy.
Great authors who have written about populism point out that this phenomenon revolves around a magical word: "the people." Populists tend to instrumentalize the concept of people, nation, or folk to concentrate and centralize power. This is done with the aim of destroying the existing institutional order and building an authoritarianism, as is the case in Venezuela and Cuba.
When we talk about populism, it's important to understand that it is a phenomenon that encompasses any ideology. That is, we can find a populist from either the left or the right.
The key for the populist is that discontent exists. On the other hand, democracy will also be a very important tool for them. This is important because populism will occur in democratic regimes.
Why in a democracy? First, because democracy is used to gain power in a time of discontent. Second, because it allows them to achieve their authoritarianism. This is done by arguing that they have legitimacy through votes at the ballot box.
Enrique Krauze, a Mexican historian, essayist, editor, and businessman, has dedicated a large part of his career to studying populism. Krauze is the author of twenty books, some of the most notable being: Siglo de caudillos, Biografía del poder, La presidencia imperial, La presencia del pasado, Redentores, and El pueblo soy yo.
Krauze has made a very insightful effort to identify and write about 10 specific traits of the populist leader. Below are the details of each characteristic to help identify populism.
1. Populism exalts the charismatic leader.
Every political project is tied to a leader. However, it is impossible to conceive of populism without the figure of the celestial man who will solve the problems afflicting the people once and for all.
The populist leader mobilizes the masses with his charisma. He believes he has the authority to dictate what is right and what is true.
2. The populist not only uses and abuses words: he appropriates them.
Words are the vehicle of their charisma. The populist aims to demonstrate that there is only one truth: theirs. For this, they control, harass, and censor the media. To establish their truth, they resort to demagogic rhetoric.
“In ancient times, when the demagogue was also a general, democracy turned into tyranny; most of the ancient tyrants were demagogues.”
Aristotle
3. The populist fabricates the truth
The charismatic leader presents himself as the only one capable of interpreting the thoughts and feelings of the people. He takes this interpretation and establishes it as the absolute truth. His discourse becomes the official truth.
Naturally, populists abhor freedom of expression. Therefore, they confuse criticism with militant enmity. Consequently, they seek to discredit, control, and silence it.
4. The populist uses public funds at their discretion.
The populist intends to dispose of all their country's resources at will, without any accountability.
Public spending is at the mercy of the leader. Therefore, the treasury is their patrimony and they can use it to enrich themselves or invest it in projects they deem important or glorious, without taking costs into account.
The populist has a magical concept of economics: for them, every expense is an investment. This shows contempt for economic institutions, causing financial damage to the country and its population. This has resulted in countries suffering from such populist regimes taking decades to recover their economies.
5. The populist directly distributes wealth
“You have a duty to ask!”
Evita Perón exclaimed to her beneficiaries.
Since the populist leader claims to know the people, their problems, and needs, he assumes the authority to dispose of public resources discretionarily. He is the one who decides how much and how it is distributed.
He may even personally carry out the distribution. Of course, the populist does not distribute for free: he targets his aid and demands obedience in return. This is done with the intention of bribing the people.
6. The populist fosters class hatred
Populist regimes grow stronger as they polarize society.
For this reason, the populist resorts to a discourse of hatred against different sectors: the wealthy, entrepreneurs, the press, foreigners, or those who are different.
The populist harasses the rich, often accusing them of being "anti-national." The populist does not necessarily seek to abolish the state, but rather to subjugate its agents and manipulate them to their advantage. They attract "patriotic entrepreneurs" who support the regime.
7. The populist constantly mobilizes social groups
The populist leader, through his charisma, mobilizes the population to validate himself as the spokesperson for the general will. Populism appeals to, organizes, and incites the masses.
The public square is the space to manipulate public opinion, turning it into a docile and submissive flock. This square is a theater where "His Majesty The People" appears to demonstrate their strength.
It is in the square where public trials of the people's enemies take place and arbitrary measures by the leader are announced.
8. Populism systematically resorts to an external enemy
When there are problems in maintaining popular support, the regime invents enemies.
Needing to point fingers every time it fails, the populist regime diverts attention to an external adversary.
Peronist Argentina rekindled old anti-American passions, and Chávez also employed this rhetoric.
Using nationalist rhetoric, the populist refers to the "external enemy," which can be institutions, corporations, governments, or foreign figures who, according to them, seek to overthrow them.
9. Populism despises institutions and the rule of law
As he distrusts laws created through institutional channels, the leader hijacks the other branches of the state. Therefore, once in power (like Chávez), the caudillo tends to seize control of Congress and induce "direct justice."
Therefore, the populist manipulates Congress and makes the courts biased. Furthermore, he encourages the people to take justice into their own hands, based on what the regime defines as "right."
10. Populism undermines, dominates, and ultimately tames or cancels the institutions of liberal democracy.
Populism abhors limits to its power, considering them contrary to the "popular will." This leader therefore seeks to expand the space for exercising his power at all costs.
Anything that opposes or seeks to control him is contrary to the "popular will"—understood as the populist's desires.
Therefore, the populist leader will seek to remain in power indefinitely, through the cancellation of democratic institutions.
Two key words in populism
Political scientist Eduardo Fernández has highlighted that for a populist to emerge, two key words must exist: democracy and populism. In the author's opinion, populism originates from democracy and develops within democracy.
However, for it to survive, certain conditions are needed. In Fernández's opinion, the central condition is citizen discontent, disaffection, and the frustration of individuals with the political system that governs their daily lives.
That is the best breeding ground for a populist to ascend to power and destroy, radically modifying its DNA, the political system that gave it birth.
Eduardo Fernández
Therefore, in the author's words, when there is a democratic system and widespread discontent in society, everything is set for the populist leader to emerge.
Why pay attention to the phenomenon of populism in Guatemala?
Today, Guatemala shares several of the conditions needed for populist rulers to come to power: discontent, social polarization, desperation for change, and weak institutions.
After more than 30 years of democracy in Guatemala, discontent has become widespread, seeking solutions for a long series of evident problems.
This, coupled with the fact that our institutions are weak and easily co-opted, should raise alarms about a problem that may be closer than it seems.