Is populism an operational concept? Notes for the debate

This article approaches the use of the concept of populism in the years 1945-1964 in Brazil. On the basis of classic studies on the subject, we discuss it with the new studies that point the limits of the classic historiography on the subject. For that purpose, we demonstrate the importance of the polysemy of the concept, to the importance that the studies assigns to the factor charism and the notion of manipulation of the masses, as an intrinsic component to the populism. Finally, we point out some of the new paths proposed by historians to the analysis of the period.