Caudillos have been a central figure in Latin American politics, characterised by their iron grip on power and personalist leadership. In The Persistence of Local Caudillos in Latin America, Tomáš Došek redefines this concept to examine local democracy in unitary states. His analysis addresses significant limitations in the subnational democracy literature, such as the predominance of studies focused on federal countries and intermediate levels of government, single-country case studies, and an emphasis on subnational regime typologies. Building on these gaps, Došek centres his analysis on the exercise of local power by caudillos, identifying informal practices that ensure their continuity across various unitary states.
Inspired by Guillermo O’Donnell, Došek conceptualises the local caudillo as a leader who perpetuates power through informal practices that transform municipalities into spaces of personalist control. Although situated in the Latin American context, this concept possesses characteristics applicable to other regions, as it captures broader dynamics of political personalism and strategies for consolidating informal power.
The author highlights the relevance of less severe informal practices, which might be described as a ‘power of the weak’: discreet, everyday, yet effective methods of exercising authority. These practices enable caudillos to build loyalty networks, manage local tensions and consolidate political leadership without resorting to overt violence or extreme abuses. This approach contrasts with dominant structural explanations and offers a novel perspective on local power dynamics.
Došek organises his agency-driven theory around three main components explaining caudillos’ persistence in power. The first is the consolidation of the electoral base, achieved through clientelism, patronage and the selective provision of public goods. These practices are complemented by symbolic actions, such as community engagement, which project the caudillo as a charismatic and effective leader. The second component involves controlling local opposition through a combination of co-optation, indirect pressure and tactics such as vote fragmentation via distractor candidacies, thereby weakening political adversaries. The third component focuses on neutralising critical actors, including media outlets, judicial institutions and social leaders, through co-optation, discreditation and other forms of indirect pressure.
These practices address an inherent dilemma: while severe practices grant greater political control, they also increase the risk of public criticism and social rejection; less severe practices, though more stable, limit the extent of absolute control. This balance between stability and absolute control is key to understanding the exercise of caudillo power in local democratic contexts.
Došek’s comparative logic combines subnational and cross-border analysis to identify local dynamics of caudillo power in different contexts. His methodological design selects six municipalities across three unitary countries: Chile, Peru and Paraguay. This approach aims to analyse the continuity or fall of caudillos by isolating local factors that explain their persistence while controlling for the impact of national dynamics.
For the Chilean and Peruvian cases, Došek employs a ‘most similar systems’ design, comparing municipalities with similar structural characteristics, such as limited autonomy, but different political outcomes. In both countries, caudillos face similar institutional constraints, allowing the analysis to focus on their power strategies. For example, cases like Augusto Miyashiro in Chorrillos (Peru) and Santiago Rebolledo in La Cisterna (Chile) exemplify successful continuity, while figures like Felipe Castillo in Los Olivos (Peru) and Vicky Barahona in Renca (Chile) illustrate instances of downfall due to the excessive use of severe practices that eroded their legitimacy.
In contrast, the Paraguayan cases – Albino Ferrer in San Lorenzo and the Gómez Verlangieri clan in Limpio – introduce an additional dimension to the analysis. Paraguay presents a distinct structural context marked by lower decentralisation and the strong influence of traditional parties. These cases, functioning as ‘shadow studies’, allow Došek to assess the limits of his argument in a setting where national dynamics carry greater weight in local politics. In Paraguay, caudillos rely not only on local informal practices but also on alliances with national party structures to remain in power. This design enables Došek to demonstrate how the continuity or fall of caudillos primarily depends on their ability to balance control and exposure, emphasising political agency and local dynamics over structural factors. Furthermore, the richness of his data – drawn from media archives, municipal sessions and 124 in-depth interviews conducted during seven months of fieldwork – provides a solid empirical foundation for his arguments.
Došek’s analysis offers an in-depth exploration of the phenomenon of local caudillismo in Latin America but leaves certain aspects unaddressed, opening new avenues for research. One such aspect is the impact of social media and digital technologies on power dynamics. While the author mentions the influence of traditional media in controlling local narratives, he does not explore how digital platforms transform these dynamics. It would be relevant to investigate whether these tools serve as new propaganda channels for caudillos or, conversely, enhance citizen oversight and undermine their clientelist networks, especially in urban contexts with high technological connectivity.
Another element deserving further attention is the relationship between local violence and political power. Although Došek examines coercive practices such as the intimidation of opponents or strategic use of judicial institutions, he does not delve deeply into interactions with violent actors like organised crime or armed groups. In the context of growing insecurity in Latin America, it would be crucial to analyse how these actors reinforce caudillo control through strategic alliances or, alternatively, create tensions that weaken their political stability.
Similarly, the book does not extensively explore the role of private local and regional actors, such as contractors and businesspeople, in consolidating caudillo power. These actors may play a pivotal role, either strengthening clientelist networks through economic arrangements or weakening caudillo control through resource disputes. Investigating these dynamics would provide deeper insights into the intertwining of private interests with informal power structures at the local level.
Finally, although Došek examines relationships between caudillos and the national executive within unitary states, he does not explore their ties with regional actors and legislators in depth. These relationships could be essential for understanding how caudillos extend their power beyond the municipal sphere, negotiating resources and strategic alliances. Connections with legislators, in particular, could reveal how caudillos integrate broader political networks to consolidate their influence across different levels of the political system.
The Persistence of Local Caudillos in Latin America makes significant contributions to the subnational politics literature by offering a detailed and rigorous analysis of local power dynamics in Latin America’s unitary states. Through meticulous research and clear narrative, Došek not only unpacks the informal practices sustaining caudillismo but also enriches our understanding of how democracy operates at the local level. The book is particularly valuable for scholars focused on local democracy, Latin American political history and the effects of political decentralisation. Beyond academic specialists, it is a compelling read for anyone seeking to understand the transformations and development of local politics in the region and in other global contexts where similar dynamics persist.
