The theoretical conceptual approach to populism in Latin America

In light of the conceptual complexities surrounding the idea of populism, this article studies the concepts and processes that have been employed in the literature on populism in Latin America. Following the guidelines put forward by Gary Goertz (2006), the author focuses on the conceptualization of three of the principal stages of populism: classical populism, neo-populism, and the "new left" populism. The application of these methods shows, that the literature focuses on different variables and interactions of variables depending on the stage being studies, thus leading to important differences in both the extension and the intension of the concept. Above all, this article is intended as a contribution to the academic discussion of populism from a theoretical-conceptual point of view.