A model to emulate? The figure of Moses in Latin American politics and ethics: from liberation theology to Javier Milei

Abstract

Contemporary right-wing politicians and movements–traditionally associated with anti-Semitism–have adopted a new approach towards Judaism (not necessarily towards Jews), coupling biblical archetypes with contemporary political figures. Leaders such as Javier Milei, Donald Trump, and Jair Bolsonaro incorporate biblical tones into their political speeches and refer to “the forces of heaven” supporting their campaigns. The figure of Moses is frequently invoked, and more often than not misused, for a variety of purposes, all of them far removed from the ethos of Liberation theology. In this article, we explore the debates within Catholicism regarding the figure of Moses and its place in Christian theology. Since the post-World War II era, progressive Catholics in Latin America invoked the figure of Moses more often than public figures associated with Judaism. We trace the changing place of Moses in Latin American politics from the Colombian priest Camilo Torres and the Peruvian priest Gustavo Gutiérrez with his liberation theology to the use of this prophet of Israel by Milei to justify his anarcho-capitalism.