The world has witnessed the rise of various leaders labeled as populist or illiberal, often grouped together as though they were a homogenous category. Political science provides frameworks to distinguish and classify leadership styles based on how they wield power. From Chantal Mouffe\u2019s view of right-wing populism as a response by markets and oligarchs, to Max Weber\u2019s concept of charismatic domination, and the term \u201cilliberal leaders\u201d coined by Fareed Zakaria and Gideon Rachman to describe figures like Russian President Vladimir Putin or Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n, leadership typologies vary widely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The study of leaders gained momentum with Donald Trump\u2019s election as U.S. president in 2016. However, figures like Putin, Orb\u00e1n, or former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had been in power long before, receiving less scholarly attention. While it is possible to discuss the rise of conservative leaders globally, each case carries unique characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although this ideology is not uniform and encompasses various nuances, since 2016, Trump has often been used as a reference to describe other leaders associated with the far-right wave. Leaders such as Jair Bolsonaro, Nayib Bukele, Javier Milei, Narendra Modi, Boris Johnson, Geert Wilders, Marine Le Pen, and even Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador\u2014a leftist leader\u2014have been dubbed \u201cthe Trumps of…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This approach is not just a descriptive mistake but a methodological one, as each leadership displays unique ideological, rhetorical, and governance styles. Popularizing such a nickname fosters confusion and oversimplifies the analysis of distinct cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Donald Trump\u2019s ascent to the White House in 2016 marked a turning point, largely due to the polarizing nature of his campaign. His rhetoric centered on economic protectionism and job security, incorporated xenophobic tones regarding immigration, and expressed admiration for authoritarian peers, often praising them openly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Latin American Trumps<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump\u2019s victory is often perceived as a catalyst for conservative leaders elsewhere, but there is little evidence to support this claim. In Latin America, history has shown that the election of strong leaders is a way to compensate for the region\u2019s institutional fragility. Four prominent cases frequently discussed are Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador in Mexico (2018), Nayib Bukele in El Salvador (2019), Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil (2019), and Javier Milei in Argentina (2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n