Social Actors and Latin American Social Thought: Contributions for Decentring Social Movement Studies

Unlike the debate in United States and Europe, the study of social movements in Latin America has never had a well-defined field of study in the social sciences to enable systematic discussion on notions, categories and controversies. However, social movements have been treated in a transversal way within a wide range of topics, approaches and discussions within Latin American sociology and, particularly, regional social thought. This paper seeks do build bridges between social movement studies and the Latin American social thought in order to contribute to decentre the research agenda on social movements. Particularly, we will identify and analyse the main actors, conflicts, regional frames and socio-political and ideological matrices (such as indigenism, agrarism and anti-racism), as well as key concepts and notions elaborated by Latin American authors and actors, that is, social movements themselves. The update of this regional tradition can enrich social movement theories and stimulate comparative dialogue with other regions of the world, especially peripheral ones.