Latin American Conservatism and the Rise of the Far Right

Latin American Conservatism and the Rise of the Far-Right is a comparative study that focuses on contemporary conservatism in Latin America and its historical development, seeking to identify and analyze dialogues, similarities, and differences between countries in the Global South and North, as well their interactions with former colonial powers.

Scholars of modern conservatism and right-wing ideologies in Latin America have focused on profound changes since the Second World War, especially the close ideological and material connections between (neo)conservatism and neoliberal ideology, and more recently, the influence on conservatives and conservatism of far-right populist movements. Through contributions from specialists in several Latin American countries, this book shows how conservative ideology has evolved since the 19th century in response to challenges from both the political right and the left. The study reveals that contemporary movements, fueled by populism, social media and transnational influences, represent a new manifestation of a long-standing dilemma for Latin American conservatives, whose primary concerns have always been social, cultural and political stability in a context where the legacy of the past is itself a potent source of division. To deepen understanding of the historical and ideological context, the book includes chapters on Portugal, Spain and the US.

Offering a highly distinctive approach to the study of ideology in historical and contemporary contexts, Latin American Conservatism and the Rise of the Far Right provides valuable insight for students of History, International Relations, Political Science, and Latin American Studies.

Lenon Campos Maschette is a post-doc fellow in History and Politics at the University of Campinas, Brazil. He has been researching right-wing political and ideological manifestations in the UK and Brazil. He has published numerous articles and, most recently, the book The British Conservative Party: Ideology and Citizenship (Routledge, 2024).

Mark Garnett has taught Politics at several UK universities. He is the author, co-author and editor of numerous books and articles on conservatism, including Conservative Moments (2018), Conservative Thinkers (with Kevin Hickson, 2013), and, most recently, Conservatism (2023).