← All publications

Journal article · 2013

Latin American Political Outsiders, Revisited: The Case of Marco Enríquez-Ominami in Chile, 2009

Kenneth Bunker, Patricio Navia

Journal of Politics in Latin America 5(2): 3-35

Bunker, K., & Navia, P. (2013). Latin American Political Outsiders, Revisited: The Case of Marco Enríquez-Ominami in Chile, 2009. Journal of Politics in Latin America, 5(2), 3–35. https://doi.org/10.1177/1866802X1300500201

@article{bunker2013latin,
  author   = {Bunker, Kenneth and Navia, Patricio},
  title    = {{Latin American Political Outsiders, Revisited: The Case of Marco Enríquez-Ominami in Chile, 2009}},
  journal  = {Journal of Politics in Latin America},
  volume   = {5},
  number   = {2},
  pages    = {3--35},
  year     = {2013},
  doi      = {10.1177/1866802X1300500201},
  url      = {https://kennethbunker.github.io/publications/2013-latin-american-political-outsiders-revisited-case-marco/},
  language = {english}
}
Download .bib
First page of Latin American Political Outsiders, Revisited: The Case of Marco Enríquez-Ominami in Chile, 2009First page

Abstract

This article applies the debate on the recent emergence of outsider candidates in Latin America to independent presidential candidate Marco Enríquez-Ominami (ME-O) in Chile in 2009. We test five competing hypotheses to explain his electoral success. First, his support is explained by the consolidation of democracy, reflected by the disposition of voters to disregard the authoritarian/democratic-aligned candidates. Second, his support is explained by the decline of ideological identification, reflected by the disposition of voters to prefer nontraditional candidates. Third, his support is explained by the resurgence of the Left, reflected by the disposition of voters to identify with anti-Washington Consensus candidates. Fourth, his support is explained by the demand for quick government action, reflected in the predisposition of voters to consider candidates who will solve problems fast even if they do not ask voters for their opinions. Fifth, his support is explained by the declining support for established parties, reflected by the predisposition of voters to favor antisystemic candidates. We use survey data to test these hypotheses. We find no evidence to support the claims that ME-O fits any of the explanations. Though he was widely referred to as an outsider, his success seems to respond to national affairs rather than to a regional pattern.

Details

Journal
Journal of Politics in Latin America
Volume
5
Issue
2
Pages
3-35
Year
2013
Publisher
SAGE Publications (GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies)
ISSN
1866-802X (print); 1868-4890 (online)
DOI

Versión en español

Artículo · 2013

Los outsiders políticos latinoamericanos, revisitados: el caso de Marco Enríquez-Ominami en Chile, 2009

Kenneth Bunker, Patricio Navia

Journal of Politics in Latin America 5(2): 3-35

Resumen

Este artículo aplica el debate sobre la reciente aparición de candidatos outsiders en América Latina al candidato presidencial independiente Marco Enríquez-Ominami (ME-O) en Chile en 2009. Ponemos a prueba cinco hipótesis alternativas para explicar su éxito electoral. Primero, su apoyo se explica por la consolidación de la democracia, reflejada en la disposición de los votantes a dejar de lado a los candidatos alineados con el eje autoritarismo/democracia. Segundo, su apoyo se explica por el declive de la identificación ideológica, reflejado en la disposición de los votantes a preferir candidatos no tradicionales. Tercero, su apoyo se explica por el resurgimiento de la izquierda, reflejado en la disposición de los votantes a identificarse con candidatos contrarios al Consenso de Washington. Cuarto, su apoyo se explica por la demanda de una acción rápida del gobierno, reflejada en la predisposición de los votantes a considerar candidatos que resuelvan los problemas rápidamente aunque no consulten su opinión. Quinto, su apoyo se explica por el declive del apoyo a los partidos establecidos, reflejado en la predisposición de los votantes a favorecer candidatos antisistema. Utilizamos datos de encuestas para poner a prueba estas hipótesis. No encontramos evidencia que respalde que ME-O se ajuste a alguna de estas explicaciones. Aunque fue ampliamente calificado como outsider, su éxito parece responder a asuntos nacionales más que a un patrón regional.

Detalles

Revista
Journal of Politics in Latin America
Volumen
5
Número
2
Páginas
3-35
Año
2013
Editorial
SAGE Publications (GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies)
ISSN
1866-802X (print); 1868-4890 (online)
DOI

Profiles: Google Scholar / ORCID / ResearchGate / Academia.edu / Web of Science / CV