Capitalist Outsiders: Oil's Legacy in Mexico and Venezuela

Social polarization has rarely culminated in electoral victories for anticapitalist outsiders. Capitalist Outsiders revisits celebrated exemplars of Latin American populism in Mexico and Venezuela to shed light on this phenomenon. It reveals how anticorruption campaigns boosted Mexicos neoliberal-era capitalist outsider by drowning out salacious corporate scandals; how Venezuelas apparently enlightened capitalist outsiders of the 1940s relied on segregationist, punitive labor relations; and how corporate insiders of Venezuelas neoliberal political establishment unwittingly validated the anticapitalist Hugo Chávez as the true outsider.

Format: Hardback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 18 April 2023
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press

Social polarization has been a significant feature of neoliberal political establishments, but it has rarely translated into electoral victories for anticapitalist outsiders. Instead, those who accommodate capitalists often emerge as the winners. In his book "Capitalist Outsiders," author Juan Pablo Castañeda revisits celebrated exemplars of Latin American populism in Mexico and Venezuela to explore this phenomenon. Through these case studies, Castañeda sheds light on how anticorruption campaigns in Mexico boosted the fortunes of neoliberal-era capitalist outsiders by overshadowing salacious corporate scandals. He also reveals how Venezuelas "enlightened capitalist outsiders" of the 1940s relied on segregationist and punitive labor relations, and how corporate insiders within Venezuela's neoliberal political establishment unwittingly validated the anticapitalist Hugo Chávez as the true outsider.

By weaving together these case studies, Castañeda reveals an unlikely common origin for capitalist outsiders in both countries: their sequential insertion into global oil production and Mexicos early twentieth-century radical oil workers. "Capitalist Outsiders" goes beyond simply cataloging "populist" traits and tactics or proposing institutions to prevent their rise. Instead, it delves into the distinct social bases of capitalist and anticapitalist outsiders. It exposes how a nation's earlier incorporation into the capitalist world economy casts a long shadow over neoliberal-era outsider politics.

This book is a valuable contribution to our understanding of political dynamics in Latin America and beyond. It sheds light on the complex relationships between capital, power, and social movements and provides insights into the challenges faced by anticapitalist outsiders in the contemporary world. By challenging the conventional narratives surrounding populism and capitalism, "Capitalist Outsiders" offers a fresh perspective on the ongoing struggles for political and economic change.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780822947639