Recent political events in the US and Europe have focused scholarly debate on the nature of populism and its relationship to democracy. In the context of Latin America the concept has a long history. Associated with economic nationalism and the co-optation of particular classes from the early twentieth century, from the 1990s a neo-liberal form of populism emerged in Latin America.

With the diversity of ‘populisms’ identified, the conference seeks to examine whether the term continues to have any validity and what relationship(s) it has to democracy.

Speakers include contributions from Steve Levitsky, Professor of Government, Harvard; and Francisco Panizza, Professor of Latin American Comparative Politics, LSE.

The King's Brazil Institute at King's College London has partnered with the Institute of Latin American Studies at the University of London to bring you this two day international conference.