The rise of far-right in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil and Chile in comparative perspective

Abstract

Even though in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, after a left´s predominance in the executive, right-wing politicians were elected in the most recent elections, in Brazil this turn brought to power Jair Bolsonaro, a politician close to the farright. What explains this result in the Brazilian case? The authors conclude that, although in all three cases there is evidence of a crisis of democratic values, in Brazil there is also a deep decline in support for the political system and a rejection of traditional political parties. In this sense, Bolsonaro does not represent an ideological change among the population. It is, rather, a response against the system, not a transit in the value system.