Sociology of Latin-American movements: Practices and theories

Sociology of Latin-American Movements: practices and theories.

Maria da Gloria Gohn
UNICAMP / CNPq / Brazil

This paper presents the main characteristics of current social movements in Latin America, indicating also the principal theories produced to explain them. The current scenario of social movements has changed, with predominant organized marches and occupations, organized online via social networks, denying politics and the politicians. These movements are different from the rebellions of the 1960s, which constituted a great cultural revolution, with engagement in politics. They are also different from those occurred in the years 1970-1980, that showed resistance to military regimes. At that time the social movements had essentially a sociopolitical nature, being instruments of mobilization and grassroots organizing.  Moreover, they are different from the movements of the 1990-2000 decades, when institutionalized practices of social organizations prevailed. The economic and political developments of these decades, with its fiscal adjustment and globalization, have produced a generation of excluded by poverty and by the new rules of access to the labor market, especially the young.  Currently, participation in events and movements occurs via aggregation ad hoc.