Caudillismo

Caudillismo is an economically variable, authoritarian, and usually culturally right-wing ideology based around Latino (Spanish, Portuguese, or Latin American) nationalism, military power, and a reliance on a powerful military strongman known as a Caudillo. Caudillismo as an ideology started with the personality cults of leaders in the Latin American Wars of Independence, and became a defining feature of Latino authoritarianism. Some defining traits of Caudillos are Latino chauvinism, being the heads of powerful military dictatorships, and cults of personality. Caudillismo and Great Man Theory go hand-in-hand. In Latin America, the term "Caudillo" is used as both a detractor for authoritarian political opponents and a word of praise for great leaders; for example, Pinochet may be called a "Caudillo" for his inhumane practices while Castro may be called a "Caudillo" for his strength in building his nation's economy, and vice-versa.

History

File:Cball-Portugal.png Portugal File:Salazar.png

Main Article: File:Salazar.png Salazarism

W.I.P.

File:Cball-Spain.png Spain File:Cball-Spanish Empire.pngFile:Franco-alt.png

Main Article: File:Franco.png Francoism

W.I.P.

File:CBall-Mexico.png Mexico File:PorfirioDíaz.pngFile:Calles.pngFile:DíazOrdaz.pngFile:PRI.png

File:SantaAnna.png Santa Annism

Antonio López de Santa Anna was a Mexican general and politician who dominated Mexican politics for much of the early 19th century. Born in 1794, he rose through the military ranks during the Mexican War of Independence and later became president of Mexico multiple times, often alternating between File:Auto.pngauthoritarian rule and brief constitutional experiments. His career was marked by opportunism, shifting allegiances, and a consistent focus on consolidating power, which allowed him to maintain influence despite repeated military defeats and political upheavals.

Santa Anna’s political stance combined File:Authclib.pngauthoritarian classical liberalism with File:Authoritarian Conservatism.pngauthoritarian conservatism, blending centralist governance and strong executive control with selective adoption of liberal economic policies. He frequently deployed File:Prez.pngpresidentialism to concentrate power, while his tenure displayed elements of File:Auto.pngautocracy, File:Strato.pngstratocracy, and File:IllibDem.pngilliberal democracy, emphasizing military authority and control over civil institutions. During conflicts such as the Texas Revolution, he pursued File:Irridentism.pngirredentism, attempting to reclaim territories lost to secession, reflecting his expansionist and File:Imp.pngimperialist tendencies.

Religiously and culturally, Santa Anna supported a File:Catheo.pngCatholic theocracy, often enforcing Catholic values in governance, while simultaneously displaying File:Tradcon.pngclassical conservatism and File:AuthConlib.pngconservative liberalism in administrative reforms. He was highly File:Mach.pngMachiavellian, manipulating political factions and rivals to retain power, and at times engaged in File:Colonial.pngcolonialist practices and File:Unitary.pngcentralism, opposing federalist decentralization. His policies also exhibited File:AntiAm.pnganti-Americanism, particularly during wars with the United States, and File:AntiNative.pnganti-Maya sentiment, reflecting the era’s discriminatory attitudes toward Indigenous populations.

Accusations of File:Monarch.pngmonarchism have been leveled at Santa Anna due to his frequent consolidation of authority and ceremonial displays of power resembling European monarchical models, though he consistently operated within the framework of Mexican republican titles. His foreign relations demonstrated File:Francophobia.pngFrancophobia, resisting European influence, while domestic governance balanced elements of File:Tradcon.pngclassical conservatism and File:Authclib.pngauthoritarian classical liberalism, underscoring the complex and often contradictory nature of his rule.

File:Argentina.png Argentina File:JuanPeron.pngFile:Videla.pngFile:Argentiniantorturer.pngFile:JoséMartínezdeHoz.pngFile:RobertoEduardoViola.pngFile:Galtieri.pngFile:ReynaldoBignone.png

Main Articles: File:Pron.png Peronism, File:Videla.png Videlaism and File:Galtieri.png Galtierism

File:NationalReorganizationProcess.png National Reorganization Process File:Videla.pngFile:Argentiniantorturer.pngFile:JoséMartínezdeHoz.pngFile:RobertoEduardoViola.pngFile:Galtieri.pngFile:ReynaldoBignone.png

In Argentina, the dictatorship began after the fall of Isabelita Perón with a military coup in 1976, swearing in Jorge Rafael Videla as president in a dictatorship known as "Proceso de Reorganización Nacional". The dictatorship became known for its brutality and authoritarianism (with some considering it as totalitarianism), as well as a refuge from post-war Nazis and anti-Semitism, so much so that Videla became known as "Hitler of the Pampa", but also had some economic improvements thanks to the minister of José Alfredo Martínez de Hoz's economy, even if he subsequently had increased debt and tax evasion. Videla stayed in power for 5 years, being succeeded by Roberto Eduardo Viola (8 months), Leopoldo Galtieri (5 months) and finally, Reynaldo Bignone (1 year and 5 months).

• File:Videla.png Jorge Rafael Videla - As already said, Videla was known for his high degree of brutality and authoritarianism, forbidding and burning books, media, committing kidnappings, torture, murders and others, but still tried to leave the image that Argentina fulfilled human rights and had freedom, as in the case of the 1978 world cup. There was an increase in public works of considerable utility, but there were also overpricings obscured by the government.
• File:Argentiniantorturer.png Albano Harguindeguy - Albano Harguindeguy was a military former Minister of the Interior of Argentina, known for his crimes against humanity. Under the dictatorship, he was responsible for torturing opponents, usually using torture methods used by France in the Algerian War of Independence, which he learned at the School of the Americas (school of torture in Panama). He subsequently benefited from Carlos Menem's pardon, but later he went through prosecutions and died in 2012 while serving criminal proceedings.
• File:RobertoEduardoViola.png Roberto Eduardo Viola - Roberto Eduardo Viola was a military man and former president of Argentina during the dictatorship. He took over after tensions in the military leadership, replacing Videla, as well as having a "soft line" stance towards Videla. During Viola's administration, the economy took a considerable turn, especially after appointing Lorenzo Sigaut as minister of economy, with a devaluation and making foreign investors avoid Argentina. Even though he had a "softer" stance compared to Videla, he still ordered 86 kidnappings, 11 tortures and 3 robberies. He was later removed from power by the military junta, trying to lead a coup against Leopoldo Galtieri during the Falklands wars in 1982, but ultimately failing. After the dictatorship, he was arrested in 1985 for crimes committed during the junta, being pardoned by Carlos Menem in 1990, dying in 1994 before the reopening of proceedings.
• File:Argentiniantorturer.png Guillermo Suárez Mason - Guillermo Suárez Mason was a former businessman and ex-military during the dictatorship. He was known for his extreme brutality and crimes against humanity, making him known as "el carnicero del Olimpo" (El Olimpo was a clandestine detention camp). He operated 4 detention camps, in addition to operating Intelligence Battalion 601, also ordering kidnappings and training the Contras in Nicaragua. He promoted the execution of Operação Soberania, starting an armed crisis, in addition to considering Jorge Rafael Videla and Roberto Eduardo Viola as "soft", preferring "hard" people from the junta, such as Emilio Eduardo Massera. After the Falklands War, he was appointed president of Yacimientos Petrolliferos Fiscales, which, while growing considerably, was accused of tampering with oil from Sol Petróleo S.A. to finance the Contras in Nicaragua as part of Operation Condor, later he operated a Masonic movement and have been a member of the Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors. After the dictatorship, he fled to the USA, which, before the process against him, ended up being one of the beneficiaries of Carlos Menem's pardons, who even so continued to be invested. In 2003, he sentenced to 3 and a half years in prison, dying in 2005 of cardiac arrest.
• File:Galtieri.png Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri - Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri was a military man and former president of Argentina during the military dictatorship. Before the presidency, he had disagreements with Roberto Eduardo Viola, negotiating his departure. As president, he was known for his irredentism seen in the disastrous Falklands War, in addition to being economically privatizing, freezing wages, understanding money in circulation and repressing unions, in addition to the economic crisis caused by incompetence in privatization. What made him famous was the Falklands War, in which he invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982, islands that belonged to the United Kingdom under Margaret Thatcher. In April, he managed to take the Falklands, but the United Kingdom managed to take it back and emerged as the victor of the war, guaranteeing Margaret Thatcher's re-election and anticipating the end of the dictatorship in Argentina, in addition to both breaking off relations until 1990. Other characteristics would be its anti-communism, even though it approached Gaddafi's Libya, Cuba, Angola and pro-USSR countries.
• File:ReynaldoBignone.png Reynaldo Bignone -

File:Cball-Bolivia.png Bolivia File:SocialismoMilitar.pngFile:NDA-Banzer.pngFile:GarcíaMeza.pngFile:Neoliberal-icon.png

Main Article: File:NDA-Banzer.png Banzerismo

In Bolivia, the dictatorship began after the overthrow of the dictator Juan José Torres, being overthrown in the 1971 coup and assassinated in Buenos Aires in 1976. The coup swore in Hugo Banzer as president and had the support of the Brazilian dictatorship (Médici), Argentine dictatorship (Videla ) and the United States, being characterized by its instability.

• File:NDA-Banzer.png Hugo Banzer - As already mentioned, Hugo Banzer came to power after the 1971 coup. In the presidency, there was strong anti-communism, anti-unionism, reception of Nazi refugees, even though there was no considerable repression of minority groups compared to other countries. . Another characteristic would be the high levels of corruption and drug trafficking, in addition to an economic failure due to customerism and loans to "white elephants". He left after opponents overthrew him in the 1978 coup, swearing in Juan Pereda as president.
• File:GarcíaMeza.png Luis Garcia Meza - Luís Garcia Meza was a former dictator of Bolivia between 1980 and 1981, known for his high degree of authoritarianism and corruption. He came to power after overthrowing Lidia Gueiler, who, when he came to power, he implemented state terrorism, being responsible for 500 victims, in addition to other torture, prisons and others. Some notable cases of authoritarianism would be the genocide on Harrington Street, assault on the COB union and the murder of its leaders, influence Klaus Barbie's policy and countless others that were responsible for delays involving diplomacy with the United States. Another characteristic was his involvement with drug trafficking and his high degree of corruption, as in cases of irregularity in the purchase of oil and agricultural equipment, illegal exploitation of stones and others. He later left power after the collapse of the dictatorship in 1981, being tried and imprisoned in 1995, dying in 2018 before serving his sentence.
• File:Klep.png Luis Arce Gómez - Luis Arce Gómez was a former soldier and former minister of the interior of Bolivia during the Luis Garcia Meza government. He cooperated with the coup that brought Garcia Meza to power in 1980, which, as minister of the interior, was seen as a "strong man" and extremely influential in the government. In January 1980, he, along with Meza, made a list of 115 people who should be killed, including some leaders, unions, priests, journalists and several others, also having been involved in the disappearance of 28 people and the government's relationship with Nazis like Klaus Barbie. What he made known was his involvement with drug trafficking, causing him to be extradited to the United States and arrested there. He was subsequently expelled to Bolivia, where he was sentenced and imprisoned in Bolivia in 2009, dying in 2020.
• File:Authcap.png Celso Torrelio - Celso Torrelio was an ex-military and ex-president of Bolivia from 1981 to 1982. He took over after the resignation of Garcia Meza due to instability and international isolation due to drug trafficking. He was seen as more "lite" than his predecessor, yet he committed to anti-communism and making Bolivia less controversial. Even so, international isolation remained and the economic crisis continued (as well as other Latin countries), causing him to be replaced by Guido Vildoso.
• File:Nazcap-Hat.png Guido Vildoso -

File:Cball-Brazil.png Brazil File:ARENA-Brazil.pngFile:EmílioMédici.pngFile:Braziliantorturer.pngFile:Geisel.png

File:FlorianoPeixoto.png Florianismo

Floriano Peixoto (1839–1895) was a Brazilian military officer and politician who served as the second president of Brazil, taking office after the resignation of Deodoro da Fonseca. Known as the “Iron Marshal,” Peixoto’s career was shaped by his military service and staunch commitment to maintaining the stability of the newly established Brazilian Republic following the abolition of the monarchy in 1889. His rise reflected a combination of personal ambition, military influence, and the volatile politics of post-imperial Brazil.

Peixoto’s governance emphasized File:Auto.pngautocracy and File:Strato.pngstratocracy, consolidating executive and military power to suppress uprisings and stabilize the state. He maintained File:ModTotalitarian.pngmoderate totalitarianism in practice, blending strong central authority with limited tolerance for dissent. His presidency was characterized by File:BrazilianNat.pngBrazilian nationalism, supporting the consolidation of a unified national identity in the wake of regional revolts, while opposing File:Centralism.pngfederalism and any decentralization that might weaken central control.

Ideologically, Peixoto’s followers often framed his leadership within Jacobinism, self-proclaimed to emphasize radical republican principles and the defense of revolutionary authority. He enforced File:Republicanismpix.pngrepublicanism, opposing File:Antimon.pngmonarchism and supporting the abolition of imperial institutions, while selectively promoting File:Abolitionism.pngabolitionism and File:AntiRacism.pnganti-racism, reflecting the post-abolition context of Brazil and the need to integrate formerly enslaved populations into the civic body. His administration claimed a commitment to File:Anti-Corrupt.pnganti-corruption, though practical enforcement was uneven.

Peixoto’s philosophical influences included File:Positivism.pngpositivism, which guided his approach to rational governance, social order, and state modernization. He also engaged with File:Freemason .pngfreemasonry, both politically and socially, which shaped aspects of his network and ideological outlook. Consistently, he opposed File:Anticon.pngconservatism, favoring progressive reforms within a tightly controlled authoritarian framework, making him a central figure in the establishment of Brazil’s early republican order.

File:Cball-Chile.png Chile File:Pinochet-hat.pngFile:Leigh.pngFile:WhiteTerror.pngFile:ColoniaDignidad.png

File:Pinochet-hat.png Augusto Pinochet . Pinochet came to power in Chile in 1973 after a military coup against communist File:Allende.png Salvador Allende . During the 17 years of Pinochet's rule in Chile, economic reforms were carried out, as well as throughout the entire rule of the military in the country, repressions against communists and those opposed to the regime continued. On March 11, 1990, Pinochet left the post of president and handed over power to a new democratically elected president

File:Cball-Paraguay.png Paraguay File:ColoradoParty-Stroessner.png

W.I.P

File:Cball-Uruguay.png Uruguay File:UruguyanAuthcap.pngFile:Bordaberry.png

W.I.P

File:Cball-Colombia.png Colombia

W.I.P.

File:Cball-Peru.png Peru File:JuanVelasco.png File:MoralesBermúdez.png File:Fujimori.png

Alberto Fujimori, the president of Perú from 1990 to 2000 and his 'Fujomirism' has been called a caudillo.

Fujumorism arose in 1989 with the creation of the political party "Cambio 90", created by the Peruvian-Japanese politician Alberto Fujimori. At that time, File:Cball-Peru.png Peru was suffering an era of serious terrorism by far-left groups, being the main Shining Path, a group which followed an ideology called "Gonzalo Thought", which was an extremely radical fusion of File:Ormarxf.png Marxism, File:Orthlen.png Leninism and File:Mao.png Maoism.

It is in this climate of terror that Fujimori, of a File:Neoliberal-icon.png neoliberal and anti-communist nature, easily wins the 1990 general elections against his rival, the File:Demlib.png democratic liberal Mario Vargas Llosa, making Fujimori president of Peru.

During his rule, Fujimori practically destroyed the terrorist groups using unconventional means (repression, assassinations, death squads), and to remain in power, he decided to carry out a self-coup in 1992, turning Peru into a dictatorship.

By 2000, and due to unpopularity, accusations of corruption, and Fujimori health problems, Fujimori was forced to leave power.

After this, Fujimorism became a political opposition force, and despite the fact that in the early 2000s it was not doing very well in electoral results, over time it took more and more power, until it almost dominated half of the Peruvian congress, although since then its results have dropped a bit.

Currently its main party is Popular Force, led by File:KeikoFujimori.png Keiko Fujimori (daughter of Alberto Fujimori), and continues to be one of the most important ideologies in Peru.

File:Cball-Nicaragua.png Nicaragua File:Sandinism.png

Nicaragua experienced a Caudillo in the form of Augusto Cesar Sandino.

Augusto César Sandino was a Nicaraguan revolutionary who from 1927 to 1933 was the leader of an armed rebellion against the US occupation of Nicaragua. Despite being assassinated, Sandino became an anti-imperialist icon.

In 1961, Nicaragua was under the dictatorship of the Somoza Family, which was backed by the United States, so, inspired by Sandino's asañas, the socialist politician Carlos Fonseca founded the Sandinista National Liberation Front, a guerrilla organization from socialist court that, after waging a violent revolution, managed to overthrow the Somoza Family and establish a socialist government.

Following this, the Sandinistas clashed with anti-communist insurgent groups called "Contras" in a civil war that lasted until 1990, when the opposition defeated the Sandinistas in pre-presidential elections.

After a long time without being in power, the Sandinistas would win the 2006 presidential elections with Daniel Ortega, who over time would perpetuate himself in power. Currently the Sandinistas control almost the entire national samblea, and have turned Nicaragua into an authoritarian government of the left.

Venezuela

File:PérezJiménez.png Perezjimenismo/New National Ideal

Marcos Pérez Jiménez (1914–2001) was a Venezuelan military officer and politician who ruled Venezuela as a de facto dictator from 1952 to 1958. Rising through the ranks of the army, Pérez Jiménez leveraged his military position to consolidate authority, culminating in a period marked by rapid modernization, authoritarian governance, and centralized economic planning. His regime reflected both personal ambition and the strategic use of the military to maintain political control.

Pérez Jiménez’s rule was defined by File:Authcap.pngauthoritarian capitalism and state capitalism, combining strong central oversight of the economy with pro-development policies aimed at industrialization and infrastructure expansion. He pursued File:Developmentalism.pngdevelopmentalism, adopting File:Keynes.pngKeynesian economic principles to stimulate growth and modernize urban centers, particularly Caracas. His government also promoted File:Indust.pngindustrialism and File:Col.pngcollectivism, emphasizing the state’s role in organizing both production and societal welfare, while maintaining control through File:PolState.pngpolice statism and File:Strato.pngstratocracy.

Politically, Pérez Jiménez embodied File:Authoritarian Conservatism.pngauthoritarian conservatism, intertwining traditional hierarchies with technocratic governance. His administration practiced File:Corptism.pngcorporatism, File:Techcon.pngconservative technocracy, and File:RightSocauth.pngsocial authoritarianism, consolidating power through elite networks while enforcing strict law and order. His ideology favored File:AuthNatCon.pngnational conservatism, File:LatAm.pngLatin Americanism, and File:Americophile.pngAmericophilia, reflecting both regional identity and pragmatic alignment with U.S. interests. He selectively embraced File:EuropeanInmigration.pngpro-European immigration policies to bolster skilled labor and economic development.

Influences on Pérez Jiménez included File:Franco.pngFrancoism (sympathetically), which informed his disciplined governance, File:Mach.pngMachiavellianism in political strategy, and aspects of File:Positivism.pngpositivism and File:Scientocracy Small.pngscientocracy, emphasizing rationalist and scientific approaches to administration. Despite ambitious modernization projects, his regime faced File:Klep.pngkleptocracy accusations due to corruption and personal enrichment among elites. Pérez Jiménez’s legacy is a paradox of accelerated national development, authoritarian control, and the consolidation of centralized power in mid-20th century Venezuela.

Personality

Caudillismo is really self-righteous, and sees himself as a powerful historical figure. He sees himself as the successor to a long line of powerful dictators, and loves to crush those he disagrees with. He speaks Spanish and Portuguese. When nobody is looking, he worships at his shrine to personality cults like Augusto Pinochet, Francisco Franco, António de Oliveira Salazar, and Getúlio Vargas.

How to Draw

File:Caudillo flag.svg

Coat of Arms of Caudillismo

The Caudillismo flag is based out of Franco's personal coat of arms

1. Draw a purple ball
2. Draw a golden bar going diagonally across the ball
3. Draw two dragon heads swallowing both sides of the bar in the top and bottom corners
4. On either side of the bar, draw two white pillars with a crown on top
5. On the pillars, draw red banners with the words "PLVS VLTRA"
6. Draw the eyes, and you're done

Props

Caudillismo may use certain props:

1. A peaked cap
2. A military beret
3. The flag of the nation he's representing
4. A Cuban cigar

Relationships

Los Patriotas (The Patriots)

• File:Franco.png Franquismo - My son and good friend, keep fighting the good fight!
• File:Integralismf.png Brazilian Integralism - Another son of mine, a great Brazilian hero!
• File:Castro.png Castrismo - Showing off the great strength of the Latino people, able to have a strong leader even in economic blockade!
• File:Pinochet-hat.png Pinochetismo - You show anyone who opposes you who's boss!
• File:Salazar.png Salazarismo - Deus, Pátria, e Família!
• File:Monarch.png Monarquismo - Protect the Spanish throne! Reinstate the Mexican, Brazilian, and Portuguese Empires!
• File:Bolivarism.png Bolivarianismo - My son who helped forge many of the nations in South America.

Dudoso (Dubious)

• File:Pron.png Peronismo - He repeatedly insists that he isn't a dictator like me, but a conductor.
• File:IllibDem.png Democracia iliberal - Why are you even keeping democracy around if it just gets in the way?
• File:Bonaparte.png Bonapartismo - He's a lot like me. but he's French, and we Spanish speakers don't like the French too much.
• File:Caesar.png Cesarismo - Dad likes the fact I'm learning from him, but he thinks my lack of empire building is cringe.
• File:Necon.png Neoconservadurismo - American imperialism is a pain in the neck for Latin American countries sometimes, but some of our anti-communist leaders work well with you.

Enemigos de la Patria (Enemies of the Homeland)

• Anarcosindicalismo - ¡HEMOS PASADO!
• File:Thatcher.png Thatcherismo - ¡LAS MALVINAS SON ARGENTINAS!
• File:Illeg.png Ilegalismo - Crime is a bad thing, you know.
• File:Dem.png Democracia - Yeah, you're a giant waste of time.
• File:Ochlo.png Oclocracia -You're even worse than the last guy.
• File:Mediastocracy flair.png Prensacracia - You say bad things about our countries.

Further Information

Literature

• Caudillos: Dictators in Spanish America, Hugh M. Hamill
• Caudillos in Spanish America, 1800-1850, John Lynch

Articles

• A History of Fascism In Venezuela by Axel de Arco

Wikipedia

• Caudillo
• Personalismo
• Strongman
• Great man theory
• La Raza
• Hispanidad
• Patria Grande

Videos

• Caudillos II, UBC Latin American Studies
• Latin American Revolutions, CrashCourse
• War and Nation Building in Latin America, CrashCourse

Gallery

• Credit: u/siddadevil, Source
  Credit: u/siddadevil, Source
• File:Caudillismoball.png
• File:CaudillismoNew.png