By Paulo GregoirePopulism is frequently diagnosed as the root cause of Latin America's greatest political and economic ills. It is little surprise, then, that powerful leaders gained a reputation in Latin America as the glue holding society together in times of great strain. Of course, the term "populism" is still open to debate in many circles. Some define populist leaders as demagogues who lack fiscal discipline, thus associating the label with a particular policy orientation. Because populism is a political phenomenon, it is perhaps best viewed through the lens of political power.

Source: Forbes August 15, 2017 12:45 UTC