Movement Parties and Backlash Politics in Latin America: The Case of Chile’s Frente Amplio

What is the relationship between the rise of left-wing movement parties and backlash politics? We examine the following three mechanisms through which left-wing movement parties may be influencing backlash politics. First, issue politicization. Movement parties play a crucial role in highlighting policy issues that existing political parties have either neglected or inadequately addressed. In the case of left-leaning movement parties, their agendas often include progressive stances on issues such as gender and the environment, both of which have frequently become targets for backlash actors. Second, realignment of ideological camps. Movement parties frequently bring about significant changes to the political landscape that go beyond merely increasing the salience of particular issues. Building on social movement research that demonstrates how social movements can internally polarize existing parties (McAdam & Tarrow, 2010), we argue that movement parties may pressure parties within the same political spectrum to take a definitive stance. This can lead to a realignment of existing political coalitions and also encourage the articulation of backlash actors that oppose this emerging political bloc. Third, shifts from policy to polity contestation. Left-wing movement parties disrupt traditional politics by promoting an alternative approach to governance and advocating for democratic innovations aimed at transforming the existing system (della Porta et al. 2017). These dynamics may reinforce backlash politics as people’s expectations might not be met (“broken promises”), and the backlash actors have further venues and tools at their disposal to mobilize adherents and convince dissatisfied citizens of their demands. We analyze these mechanisms based on the case of the Frente Amplio in Chile, aiming to illustrate how the electoral success and rapid ascent of a movement party to power has transformed the political landscape and potentially influenced subsequent backlash dynamics.