Expanding the Public Square

doi:10.1017/9781108895835.015

11 - Expanding the Public Square

Evangelicals and Electoral Politics in Latin America

from Part III - New Party–Society Linkages

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 January 2021

Edited by

Steven Levitsky and

Diana Kapiszewski: Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington DC
Steven Levitsky: Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
Deborah J. Yashar: Affiliation:
Princeton University, New Jersey

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Summary

The transformation of evangelical Christians from a discriminated-against minority to full citizens with rights and political influence constitutes an important component of the inclusionary turn in Latin America. In some countries, this process of inclusion has translated into a formidable presence in elected office, with evangelicals leading a socially conservative backlash against progressive policy agendas. In other countries, evangelicals have little presence within the halls of power. This chapter seeks to explain differences in evangelicals’ involvement and success with electoral politics in Brazil and Chile, South America’s two most heavily evangelical countries. Rejecting arguments that focus on external barriers, such as social discrimination or constraints posed by political institutions, I instead emphasize the historical process by which a religious identity is or is not politicized, via struggles for legal equality with the Catholic Church and more recent battles over abortion and same-sex marriage. In Brazil, ongoing threats to evangelicals’ core interests and identities, combined with opportunities to defend against these threats via legislative politics, have produced a much more politicized and electorally successful evangelical community than in Chile.

Keywords

religion elections Brazil Chile

Type: Chapter
Information: The Inclusionary Turn in Latin American Democracies , pp. 362 - 398

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108895835.015 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2021

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Author’s Interviews

Barrientos, Jaime. Valparaíso, Chile, Jan. 19, 2015.

Contreras, Leonardo. Valparaíso, Chile, Oct. 25, 2017.

Cooper, Alfred. Santiago, Chile, Jan. 20, 2015.

Durán Sepúlveda, Eduardo. Santiago, Chile, Oct. 27, 2017.

Gómez, Evelyn. Santiago, Chile, Oct. 25, 2017.

Larrondo, Abraham. Santiago, Chile, Jan. 15, 2015.

Muñoz, Francesca. Concepción, Chile, Jan. 14, 2015.

Muñoz, Héctor. Concepción, Chile, Jan. 14, 2015.

Pérez, Rosario. Valparaíso, Chile, Oct. 25, 2017.

Roldán, Eddy. Santiago, Chile, Oct. 23, 2017.

Soto, Emiliano. Santiago, Chile, Jan. 22, 2015.

Valenzuela, Samuel. Santiago, Jan. 19, 2015.

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11 - Expanding the Public Square

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References

Author’s Interviews

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