Authoritarian corpopulism supports the rise of sugarcane and oil palm agribusinesses in Guatemala

  • Alberto Alonso Fradejas

Press/Media: Expert Comment

Period3 Apr 2018

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleAuthoritarian corpopulism supports the rise of sugarcane and oil palm agribusinesses in Guatemala
    Degree of recognitionInternational
    Media name/outletOpenDemocracy
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date3/04/18
    DescriptionThe current debate on populist political regimes has rightly focused on the ultra-conservative authoritarian wave sweeping the world. Does this mean authoritarian forms of government are only reserved for those living in countries under charismatic right-wing populist leaders? And is it only through such iron-fist rulers that authoritarian populism unfolds?

    In short, no; there’s more to authoritarian populism today, and the role of large agribusiness corporations intimately linked to the state and elites is an important part of the story.

    In Guatemala, a long history of despotic and violent populist rulers embarked in a transition to liberal democracy 30 years ago. Amid the agro-environmental and capitalist transformations that have occurred since, a new politics of class domination has emerged.

    These politics are shaped by the rise of what I call ‘authoritarian corpopulism’, whereby corporates are deeply implicated alongside the state. Specifically, ‘authoritarian corpopulism’ in Guatemala stands for the political agenda of the white oligarchic-bourgeois owners of sugarcane and oil palm agribusinesses ruling over the countryside.
    URLhttps://www.opendemocracy.net/en/authoritarian-corpopulism-supports-rise-of-sugarcane-and-oil-palm-agribusine/
    PersonsAlberto Alonso Fradejas