Paper short abstract:

From a theoretical perspective this paper´s contribution is to propose an integrated approach to the agent-structure debate. It also advances the study of political leadership as an independent variable.

Paper long abstract:

This paper suggests that leadership styles in Latin America are better explained if contextualised within the different political party systems of each country. Thus, the paper seeks to advance an integrated approach that links agency and structure. It has three main aims. First, it argues that, after the crises of political representation during the 1990s and 2000s, Latin American leaders faced almost no structural constraints; yet only some leaders have been able to take advantage of this situation. Secondly, the paper proposes that political leadership is considered as an independent variable that explains differences in political outcomes. Thirdly, it shows that political leaders´ autonomy is key to understanding the impact that leaders have in how well or badly formal democracy works. The study is based on 350 interviews with politicians in Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Uruguay, and it presents a comparative analysis of political leadership in these countries.