Leiden University Student Repository

Moolenaar, Quirine (2021)

Can populist presidents stay popular? Analysis of populists framing democratic backsliding in Latin America

Bachelor thesis | Politicologie (BSc)

Populists play a central role in the current crisis democracy faces. Approaching populism as a style of communication is becoming more popular in academics. Yet, there has been little systematic research on indicators of populist rhetoric. This article presents a comparative case study examining presidential speeches in which populists frame democratic backsliding through populist rhetoric. It examines the use of populist rhetoric by seven Latin American presidents when they refer to their attempts to degrade the democratic system. Findings highlight that arguing to act in line with the will of the people, referring to actions as revolutionary and scapegoating opposing forces are frequently used frames to justify authoritarian behaviour and attacks on democratic institutions.

populism

democratic backsliding

rhetoric

discourse analysis

Latin America

Author

Moolenaar, Quirine

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

International Relations and Organisations

Supervisors

Dávila Gordillo, D.
Chueri, J.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en