reformista

Reformista is a term used in Spanish to describe a person or movement that favors reform within the existing political and social systems rather than radical or revolutionary change. It denotes a preference for gradual, legal, and institutional change accomplished through current political processes, often emphasizing pragmatic policy-making over upheaval.

Historically, reformist currents have appeared across liberal, social-democratic, and other reform-minded strands in Spanish-speaking countries. In Latin America, liberal reformism of the 19th century sought secularization of state power, civil rights, and property reform, working within constitutional frameworks rather than through revolution. The Mexican Reform era is a prominent example, where reformists sought to redefine the roles of church and state, the military, and the economy within a modern constitutional order.

In contemporary politics, reformista can describe factions within parties that push for incremental policy changes, institutional modernization, anti-corruption measures, and governance reforms. The label is highly context-dependent and may be used descriptively or pejoratively, depending on whether opponents frame reformist approaches as insufficient or as stabilizing.

The concept is debated: supporters argue that reformism provides a sustainable path to progress by working within institutions, while critics contend that it can perpetuate existing power structures or delay more transformative change. See also reformism, gradualism, liberalism, and social democracy.