The “mejoristas”: The rise of a libertarian mindset among Argentina’s youth

Abstract

A shared disapproval of the economy, politics, and the state characterized the young voters who voted for Argentina’s current libertarian president, Javier Milei. This dissatisfaction stems from experiences characterized by persistent inflation, chronic disappointment with elected officials, and, underlying it all, the weakness of state institutions. Against this backdrop, in the face of rapid technological changes and amid the havoc of the pandemic, a social mindset favoring a right-wing agenda has emerged. This paper explores this mindset (which we refer to as “mejorismo,” or “betterism”) and its connection to the milestones cited above, arguing that the libertarian candidate’s victory was preceded by a profound social and cultural shift.