Caudillismo (definition, characteristics, types and consequences)

The warlordism refers to the regime or government led by a caudillo. It was a historical epoch that extended throughout the nineteenth century throughout Latin America, after the event of the independence of Spain from the new sovereign nations.

It is a social political phenomenon that is related to the appearance of charismatic leaders, men strong personality and armed, with great speaking skills and a knack for being popular with women. masses.

These managed to come to power through force, through coups, armed uprisings and revolutions, among others, were also granted the faculty to solve the different problems of the condition.

Causes of caudillismo

The main cause of appearance of caudillismoIt is due to the absence of the political consents that followed the emancipation of the new Spanish nations. This allowed a political movement marked by institutional and political instability that favored the internal struggles for power and the continuity of processes of political reorganization in relation to the strongest.

The caudillos to come to power, rebelled allying with the military, overthrowing the government that was at that time in power, having the disposition dissolved Congress and proclaimed themselves presidents provisional.

After a short period of time, a new congressional election was held and the convocation of presidential elections, where the caudillo who had been president was elected previously.

Among the chief supporters of the caudillos were their trusted men-at-arms and members of the wealthy classes. With this, economic fluidity could be ensured for the nation of the caudillo on duty, who was committed to providing various benefits.

Characteristics of caudillismo

Among the most relevant characteristics of this political regime, the following can be mentioned:

• The caudillo behavior it is arbitrary and authoritarian, in addition it tends to overvalue his personal worth and always despises others.
• In particular, he is swayed by greed and ambition.
• The way he runs his administration, his conduct and his morality leave much to talk about.
• Friends and relatives formulate strategies for him to perpetuate himself in power.
• Mostly his work is negative, promotes selfishness and causes asset destabilization.
• He manages to come to power by force or through democratic promises.

How did caudillismo come to power?

Thanks to his cunning, he came to power through a political or military coup, appearing as a necessary savior for that moment. Generally, that power achieved, he lost it by another blow, therefore, as he reached power, today it is already disappeared.

But if he came to power again, he would again enjoy great popularity, this is because the caudillo has the peculiarity of breaking the law with the excuse of enforcing it. During the arrival of modernism and especially in the Republican world of Hispanic America, caudillos were very frequented.

They were men who managed to impose an inflexible and implacable dictatorship, in addition to ruling a nation with the unconditional support of a great mass.

Types of caudillos

In the 19th century, different leaders manifested themselves. From Boves to Bolívar and from Páez to Gómez, it can be said that there were several types, among them we can mention:

The romantic

He is full of honest ambitions and noble purposes, who only wants the welfare of the country as was the case with Bolívar. The despotic who only seeks personal interest, with the democratic backing of a political party.

The populars

These arose from rampant guerrilla troops like Boves or forgotten hordes like Páez.

The despotic

He is the one who is only interested in a personal interest.

The independentista

They are the ones that appeared between the years 1810 and 1824.

The intellectual

He is a politician who has a good training to govern, organize and create other states such as Bolívar, who had great historical projections or also to be a localist like Guzmán was White.

The politician

He has a popular base, which later became Páez's political leader.

The democratic

He is fully backed by a political party.

Consequences of caudillismo

• The political instability that exists today is due to the organization that organized the state when republican life appeared, lacking a base national and due to the continuous years of different political confrontations directed by different profiles that fought to have power for that moment.
• In this way, the republics were constituted in an unstable way, on a disorganized nation in the economic system and political order, in addition to the lack of planning and discipline in government. Because of this, democracy is not fully effective, allowing improper use of the gains of liberalism.
• The imposition of forced order within caudillismo, only remained for history, however, some characteristics of this nature have been maintained today. The leader who sought power and glory, tried through his works to win the sympathy of the people and sought at all costs to discredit the previous government.
• In this way, he managed to reorganize his system of government as he pleased and maintained everything bad that the previous ruler had done. At present, there are many rulers capable of discrediting their predecessors, in order to find their own benefit or perhaps they use it as a strategy for their participation imposed in the following elections.

It is very important to highlight that speaking of caudillismo, is about the consolidation of strong regionalisms, which diminished the non-existence of the nation. Currently there are still certain strong regionalisms, especially in the southern Andes, which, although not a direct consequence of caudillismo, helped to solidify some of them. For this reason, these plans can often be unsustainable for the welfare of a state.

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