Popular Politics and Protest Event Analysis in Latin America

This illuminating compilation of case studies examines protest movements in ten Latin American countries over the last half century. The surprising findings run counter to the pessimistic notion that the region is characterized purely by rising authoritarianism and democratic backsliding. Although economic liberalization over the past decades had weakened traditional labor organizations and their associated political parties, it also deepened democracy in many countries by galvanizing an ever-widening spectrum of civil society groups, including those to do with women, LGBT people, and indigenous peoples. The contributors, predominantly sociologists, categorize protests in Latin America as either “reactive” or “proactive.” The former consist of battles against austerity, privatization, and other neoliberal measures, while the latter seek to expand human rights, civil liberties, and democratic freedoms. Protesters have changed their methods over time as land seizures and labor strikes have gradually given way to rallies, road blockages, and artistic performances. Significantly, elites have come to perceive popular protests not as dire threats but as a form of ordinary democratic expression.