Why are South American countries increasingly voting in populist presidents?

Answer 1

I think it is partly because the US government has been so bogged down in the mess it has created in Iraq and Afghanistan that it hasn't got the resources to impose its agenda on South America, and people are waking up, too. As a consequence of American imposed policies through IMF, World Bank, puppet regimes, training secret police and torturers to cut dissent, etc. millions and millions of people have been exploited, but as the saying goes, you can't fool all the people all the time...so now presidents who are more sensitive to people's agenda instead of catering to US interests and the corporate agenda are being elected. For example in the case of Chavez in Venezuela, US tried to bring about a coup and get rid of him, but thank God it didn't work...times aren't like they were when the democratically elected president of Chile was killed and replaced by the monster, General Pinochet. And God willing, this just the beginning...I hope American people will wake up, too, because they are also being betrayed.

Answer 2

Interesting question. As a South American myself, living in South America, I think it's because the poor people (60-80% of the population) is starting to see the importance of democracy. I am not saying with that that I support those populist governments. Let me explain: for much time the politics was controlled by the median and upper classes. The poor people was allienated, now they are starting to participate more and to vote in "their" candidates, be it good or bad. The traditional politicians failed in the nineties, after the redemocratization, to improve the economic and social conditions of their countries, at least in a significant way. But I think it's just a wave, soon the people will realise that those populists can't do miracles too. South America lives on waves.

Answer 3

There is too much corruption in South America. Leaders take money and never do anything, jobs are scarceless and unless your family has money you won't go to college. I'm from South America and this is why we left. The lefties presidents are promising equal treatment and jobs for everyone. They criticized the political establishment and talk of rights for workers that shall rebel against corporations. It scares me. All of it sounds like Marxist views and democracy has failed in Latin America because of undemocratic leaders. I hope democracy can be established again in Latin America.

Answer 4

Because they're more than willing to tell them what they want to hear, like it's all big bad America's fault rather than taking a hard look at what the politicians themselves are doing

Answer 5

South Americans have been misled into thinking that socialism will cure the economic problems that afflict those countries.

It will not. Socialism has only exacerbated poverty.

Answer 6

Increased access to information and education.

Answer 7

they're afraid of us