FROM PROFESSIONALIZATION TO THE RISE OF OUTSIDERS: PATHS IN A POLITICAL CAREER

Abstract

The article presents an investigation into the process of political professionalization that has unfolded over the past centuries, with an emphasis on the transformations that have enabled the entry of new actors. The starting point is the experience of the polis in Ancient Greece, followed by the genesis of the Modern State in the 15th century, the global democratization process initiated in the 19th century—which elevated politics to the status of a profession—and culminating in the contemporary phenomenon of the rise of electoral outsiders. Throughout this trajectory, the article establishes parameters for recognizing political professionals, explores their mechanisms and motivations for entering the career, and problematizes the causes and consequences of their rejection by society. The research is predominantly qualitative, employing a historical and analytical approach to the process of political professionalization, complemented by quantitative data to contextualize the contemporary scenario of distrust in political institutions and the rise of electoral outsiders. This contextualization draws on global trust indices (Edelman Trust Barometer, 2023; Pew Research Center, 2023) and mappings of political leaders in democracies conducted by Santos (2020, 2023). The analyses indicate that political professionalization has replaced amateurs with a dedicated political class, while the stigma associated with corruption has fostered the emergence of electoral outsiders who capitalize on their technical expertise and media skills.