caudillismo

[kaw-dil-yiz-moh, ‑dee-yiz-, kou-thee-lyeez-maw, ‑thee-yeez-maw]

noun

plural

caudillismos 

1. a system of government by a caudillo.

2. a state or government in which a caudillo exercises absolute power.

Word History and Origins

Origin of caudillismo¹

First recorded in 1955–60; from Spanish; caudillo ( def. ) + suffix -ismo -ism ( def. )

Example Sentences

Why should Democrats have assumed that newly naturalized citizens would be progressive, rather than importing, out of pure habit, the machismo and caudillismo of Guatemala or Honduras, or the authoritarianism of South Asia?

From Salon

Two interconnected problems have confronted Latin American writers since the end of European colonialism — the often malign influence of the United States and the system of rule by authoritarian strongmen known as caudillismo.

From New York Times

When I asked who was in charge of the Civic Alliance, Alemán said, “There isn’t a leader, out of fear of succumbing to caudillismo”—rule by strongman.

From The New Yorker

But Trump isn’t importing Latin caudillismo or Russian despotism.

From Slate

Once President Trump inevitably declares that he alone expresses the popular will, Americans will find that they have traded the rule of law for a version of caudillismo.

From The Guardian