Article
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ID: <
10670/1.974vzh>
Abstract
This article challenges the hypothesis taken by many populism researchers about the alleged direct link between the charismatic leader and the masses. Most peronism studies have almost completely evaded the mediating role of personalities from various social and political sectors, each contributing to mobilising support for Perón, structuring its leadership and shaping the Justicialist doctrine. While it is true that the leader did not use the institutionalised advocacy channels to mobilise support and to convey his messages to the masses between 1943 and 1946, it is not true that he did not have the mediating function and that he could itself establish the direct and continuous loop with the masses and activate them according to his needs. The article focuses on the figure of one of these mediators, José Figuerola, who brought with Spain an ideological bagage that strengthened nationalist and corporatist tendencies in the Justicialist doctrine.