Although many regimen in South America labeled themselves as Socialists in the last decade, they were more Populist soft-dictatorships. They worked by swelling

Although many regimen in South America labeled themselves as Socialists in the last decade, they were more Populist soft-dictatorships. They worked by swelling up the state with a massive patronage system and punishing any opposition (like not renewing public concessions of Radio/TV networks that criticize the government or imprisoning dissidents under pretext). All of this was made with special care to give everything the illusion of legality while raising corruption to unprecedented levels even for the region. Chavez in Venezuela, Lula in Brazil, Morales in Bolivia - they made a lot of damage in the continent.