Epilogue. Where Have All the Movements Gone? Latin American Social Movements at the New Millennium

Abstract

Discusses the significance of the movements examined in the preceding chapters & describes popular protests that have taken place in Latin America more recently. Comparisons are made between earlier & later labor strikes, urban movements, gender-based resistance, religious movements, politically grounded protests, & racial/ethnic/indigenous-based movements. Special attention is given to the impact of varying economic, political, & social conditions. It is noted that race & ethnicity became a significant basis for collective protests for change in the 1990s, even though most democracies were more open than ever before to groups that had formerly been excluded. It is contended that redemocratization & market reforms eliminated some problems but created others, generating new feelings of injustice or deprivation, & producing new social movements spawned by past conditions. New strategies, especially those related to advanced modes of communication, are discussed. It is concluded that institutionally grounded historical approaches offer the best opportunity for assessing the unique features of Latin American social movements. 2 Tables, 60 References. J. Lindroth