Effects Of Populism

Populism has long been blamed for contributing to political instability and democratic breakdown in Latin America, but the evidence for this is often mixed and subject to interpretation.  Pick two (2) of the countries we have studied (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico) and develop an argument in each instance for why you believe populism did or did not lead to authoritarianism and/or political instability by the 1960s and 1970s.  After explaining each case, examine how the two compare and contrast in terms of the relationship between populism and negative long-term political outcomes.  Overall do you believe that populism is always destabilizing, only sometimes destabilizing, or has it been unfairly accused of being the main source of instability rather than other, more important factors? The paper should be approximately five pages in length overall.  Be sure to give citations for all sources you quote or use in a substantive way (including any on-line sources you may use), and include a bibliography.  At least two of your references should be from the articles that have been assigned for the course.  Also, try to organize your answer well, with both introductory and concluding paragraphs indicating the overall direction of the paper, and the general argument that you are making.