Climate change and populisms in latin america: a comparative analysis of the positions of argentina, ecuador, chile and brazil in view of the 2015 paris agreement

Abstract

In front of different critiques to the populist that usually pronounced from the environmental field, this paper presents a comparative analysis of the positions of Argentina, Ecuador, Chile and Brazil in the recent international negotiations regarding the Paris Agreement of 2015.

The work is based on the following research questions: how do the discursive practices enunciated in the international forums related to climate change by Argentina, Ecuador, Chile and Brazil mean global environmental problems, their possible solutions and the role of the Latin American States in such processes? What differences and similarities between the discursive positions of these States is it possible to identify? How do such positions and coalitions link to recent Latin American populist processes?

The main conclusion is that populist processes tend to take more radicalized or antagonistic positions on the claim to developed countries for the assumption of their historical responsibilities in the generation of global warming. While non-populist processes tend to place more emphasis on pragmatic positions that facilitate the achievement of international agreements.