Latin American Social Movements in the Twenty-first Century: Resistance, Power, and Democracy (Latin American Perspectives in the Classroom) - Softcover

Richard Stahler-Sholk; Harry E. Vanden; Glen David Kuecker

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0742556476 ISBN 13: 9780742556478

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2008

Synopsis

When elected civilians replaced military authoritarian regimes in Latin America in the 1980s, democracy seemed at hand. Yet those nominally democratic regimes implemented widely unpopular neoliberal policies, opening the economies to global market forces with devastating impact on the poor. This clearly written and comprehensive text examines the uprising of politically and economically marginalized groups in Latin American societies. Specialists in a broad range of disciplines interpret the new wave of social movements, including movements in Mexico, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina, the Vía Campesina global peasant network, and Mesoamerican coalitions against regional free trade agreements. This volume assembles original research from a variety of case studies in a student-friendly format. Section introductions help students contextualize the essays, highlighting social movement origins, strategies, and outcomes. Thematic sections address historical context, political economy, community-building and consciousness, ethnicity and race, gender, movement strategies, and transnational organizing, making this book useful to anyone studying the wide range of social movements in Latin America.

About this title

About the Author

Richard Stahler-Sholk is associate professor of political science at Eastern Michigan University.
Harry E. Vanden is professor of government and international affairs at the University of South Florida.
Glen David Kuecker is associate professor of Latin American history at DePauw University.

Review

Latin American Social Movements in the Twenty-first Century offers one of the most comprehensive reviews of civil society's mobilization in the region today. Combining case studies with a broad historical overview, the volume will be of great interest to those who want to understand the dynamic challenges currently faced by Latin American democracies. (Philip Oxhorn)

A wide-ranging and up-to-date study of the role of social movements in the fight for social and political change in contemporary Latin America. Extremely useful for understanding grassroots politics in the region. (Francisco Panizza)

Exceedingly well organized into thematic sections, each with a helpful, succinct introduction. . . . Clearly written. . . . Highly recommended. Three-star review. (Choice)

Latin American Social Movements in the Twenty-first Century offers students up-to-date and in-depth analysis of a wide variety of popular struggles in the region. The volume provides an excellent blend of theoretical arguments and empirical analyses that will help students understand the scope and vitality of resistance movements and their potential for achieving lasting change in Latin America. Essential reading for all students of Latin American politics, sociology and anthropology. (Neil Harvey)

Latin American Social Movements provides an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of social movements in the region....the book provides a critical challenge to capitalism as a system, and more particularly, to U.S. imperialism in Latin America....Like all good books, Latin American Social Movements provokes as many questions as it answers....This well-researched and convincingly argued book will be of interest to a wide audience, particularly those who seek to understand the root cause of social movement, their development and impact in emancipating marginalized groups against imperialism. (Ceu Political Science Journal)

About this edition

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0742556476
• ISBN 13: 9780742556478
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 404