Latin American Populism and the Discursive Boundaries of the People

This thesis examines how populist rhetoric in Latin America constructs symbolic boundaries of inclusion and exclusion around “the people,” with a focus on the cases of Brazil, El Salvador, Peru, and Mexico. It addresses a key research gap by examining ideological differences within the region, challenging the common assumption that Latin American populism is inherently inclusionary. Understanding these internal variations is crucial for evaluating how populist discourse affects democratic representation and the boundaries of political communities across diverse ideological contexts. Using Mudde and Kaltwasser’s framework of inclusionary versus exclusionary populism and Engesser et al.’s model of populist communication, this thesis conducts a qualitative content analysis of social media discourse from X, where populist leaders’ messages are increasingly channeled. The findings indicate that left-wing populists promote class-based inclusion but often exclude identity-based movements...Show moreThis thesis examines how populist rhetoric in Latin America constructs symbolic boundaries of inclusion and exclusion around “the people,” with a focus on the cases of Brazil, El Salvador, Peru, and Mexico. It addresses a key research gap by examining ideological differences within the region, challenging the common assumption that Latin American populism is inherently inclusionary. Understanding these internal variations is crucial for evaluating how populist discourse affects democratic representation and the boundaries of political communities across diverse ideological contexts. Using Mudde and Kaltwasser’s framework of inclusionary versus exclusionary populism and Engesser et al.’s model of populist communication, this thesis conducts a qualitative content analysis of social media discourse from X, where populist leaders’ messages are increasingly channeled. The findings indicate that left-wing populists promote class-based inclusion but often exclude identity-based movements by omission. At the same time, right-wing figures actively establish horizontal exclusions by explicitly vilifying feminists, LGBTQ+ groups, and security threats as "internal enemies." The thesis demonstrates that both ideological variants draw symbolic boundaries that challenge pluralism, with moments of crisis intensifying exclusion across the spectrum. Furthermore, the construction of the “us vs. them” divide is not only vertical (people vs. elite) but also horizontal, targeting feminists, Indigenous movements, LGBTQ+ groups, and international actors as internal or external threats. Ultimately, the thesis argues that populist rhetoric in Latin America is not a singular or ideologically consistent phenomenon but a contested and adaptable mode of political communication that reshapes the landscape of democratic representation and pluralism throughout the region.Show less

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Latin American Populism and the Discursive Boundaries of the People