Bringing History back into Media Systems Theory. Multiple Modernities and Institutional Legacies in Latin America Martin Echeverria , Rubén Arnoldo González, and Vıctor Hugo Reyna Abstract Since Hallin and Mancini’s (2004) seminal work, many scholars from around the world have proposed different models of media systems for countries and regions outside the Western world. Particular challenges have arisen when conceptualizing the systems in Latin America, where shifting liberal and polarized pluralist models have been proposed, and where media traits like clientelism and collusion remain in spite of political, economic and social changes. We contend that one obstacle to the characterization of the resilience of certain structures and practices in this region is the lack of a historical perspective to account for specific processes of media modernization. Drawing on the multiple modern- ization paradigm, as well as on post-colonial theories, system differentiation theories of the Global South, and theories of uneven regional development, we understand Latin American modernization processes as the appropriation, adaptation, or rejection of cer- tain elements of Western institutions, ideals and values. In media systems, this might pro- duce: (a) centralization of power, (b) a struggle between elites, (c) state-driven differentiation, and (d) regional or local subsystems. Our historical perspective aims to explain the prevalence of several media structures, and show how institutional legacies yield core media traits, in order to pave the way for further model inference. Keywords media systems, multiple modernities, media modernization, global south, Latin America Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico Corresponding Author: Martin Echeverria, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico, Av. Cúmulo de Virgo s/n. Acceso 4, CCU. Puebla, Puebla, C.P. 72810. ( + 52) 2225 88 04 13, Mexico. Email: martin.echeverria@correo.buap.mx Article The International Journal of Press/Politics 1–20 © The Author(s) 2022 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/19401612221141315 journals.sagepub.com/home/hij