Abstract

In this article the author presents a critical review of populism as it has been implemented in recent years in some Latin American countries. The article begins with a description of institutions and international economic and political crises; it then analyzes and criticizes the political alternative as presented by populism. And lastly, it explains the political ideal that derives from a constitutional democracy. The author offers a response that seeks to overcome the choice between national “populism” and international “cosmopolitanism-liberalism” by way of a new reformist perspective at the international level of global governance. The point of departure for this comes from a democratization initiative within the countries undertaken by the nations of Latin America.