It’s the party system that matters: anti-populism in Argentina’s Cambiemos coalition (2015–2017)

2025/11/07 by Soraya Hamdaoui · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Populism, Right-Wing Movements #Politics and Society in Latin America #International Relations in Latin America

paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/01436597.2025.2573847

openalex publication_date 2025/11/07 · openalex created_date 2025/11/08 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/15

Abstract

This article deals with the anti-populism of Cambiemos, the centre-right coalition led by former President Mauricio Macri in Argentina. It defends the argument that Cambiemos’ opposition to Peronism, the main expression of populism in the country, was more accommodative than what the literature suggests. This was due to one key factor, which is the party system. Being fluid and factionalised but also federalised, it facilitated exchanges or compromises between populists and anti-populists. The other important element that reduced the aggressivity of anti-populism was the political and cultural prevalence of Peronist populism in Argentina, which has been a dominant force since the end of WWII. In this context, Cambiemos did not wish to alienate both Peronist voters and politicians as it sought their support in elections and within Congress.

Citations

• The Populist Zeitgeist
• If you can't Beat them, Join them? Explaining Social Democratic Responses to the Challenge from the Populist Radical Right in Western Europe
• Populism: A Very Short Introduction
• Strategies of mainstream parties towards their right-wing populist challengers: Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland in comparison
• Populism as a Political Strategy: An Approach’s Enduring — and Increasing — Advantages
• Populism as a Transgressive Style

Discussions

• 🎉 Soraya Hamdaoui has a new publication out in Third World Quarterly 🎉 "It’s the party system that matters: anti-populism in Argentina’s Cambiemos coalition (2015–2017)" examines Latin American an [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]

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