Abstract
What is the relationship between the "left turn" and contemporary public opinion in Latin America? Presently we know little about what is driving the "pink tide" at the mass level. Do the Left's election victories reflect a deep realignment of citizens' ideological beliefs, a fleeting flirtation with new ideas after the promise of economic liberalization proved illusory, or simply citizens' retrospective punishment of incumbents who are not leftist? Answers to these questions can help us interpret Latin America's left turn and can give us a better idea of what the future might hold for leftist parties around the region. If the left turn reflects a deep ideological realignment, leftist parties can expect to rely on a core of voters now solidly anchored on the left of the ideological spectrum. If the left turn reflects more idiosyncratic motivations or merely retrospective voting, then Latin America's left turn may itself be a fleeting trend.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Resurgence of the Latin American Left |
| Publisher | The Johns Hopkins University Press |
| Pages | 31-51 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781421401102 |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2011 |