Latin American Activism and Routine Violence in the 21st Century

With Latin America experiencing one-third of global homicides and frequent coups and revolutions, activism in the region is shaped by violence and repression. Activists frequently face severe persecution, including tactics such as the curtailment of the right to protest, escalated militarization and enhanced surveillance.

This book explores the unique forms of activism in Latin America and the violence activists face, including extortion, kidnapping and physical attacks. It examines how both state and non-state actors target dissent and the connection between riots, looting and violent acts as part of collective actions.

Providing novel insights for scholars in activist organising, politics and social movements, the book analyses the relationship between routine violence and activism in a region characterised by systemic inequalities.

Simone da Silva Ribeiro Gomes is Associate Professor at Universidade Federal de Pelotas. She holds a PhD in Sociology at IESP-UERJ and an Msc in Sociology at Université Paris 7.