Portraits of Persistence

Javier Auyero is the author or coauthor of many books, including The Ambivalent State: Police-Criminal Collusion at the Urban Margins. He is the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Professor in Latin American Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin, and Ikerbasque Research Professor at the University of the Basque Country.

• Introduction (Alison Coffey and Javier Auyero) Chapter 1. Soraya, la Reina del Sur in Nicaragua (Dennis Rodgers) Chapter 2. MaÍra: Mothering and Struggle in the Shadow of State Violence (Alison Coffey) Chapter 3. Rodrigo: “Many Secrets, Nothing to Hide”-Security Entrepreneurship in Mexico City (Eldad Levy) Chapter 4. Fabio and AngÉlica: The Resistance of Staying Put (Alex Diamond) Chapter 5. Doris Huaiquian: Newen, Tenacity of Spirit (Cinthya E. Ammerman) Chapter 6. Aurelia: Displacement, Toxicity, and the Struggle for Home (Maricarmen HernÁndez) Chapter 7. Hamid: A Life Deferred in Brazil (Katherine Jensen) Chapter 8. MarÍa: Obligated by Circumstances-From Temporary to Precariously Permanent in the United States (Jennifer Scott) Chapter 9. Ezequiel: A Laburante in Argentina’s Relegated Neighborhoods (Marcos Perez) Chapter 10. Nelson and Celia: Feeling Potholes and Debt in the Bones (Jorge Derpic) Chapter 11. Big Love: A Political Broker at Work (Javier Auyero and SofÍa ServiÁn) Chapter 12. Alberto: Service Work and Social Change in Argentina (Katherine Sobering) Afterword (Javier Auyero) Acknowledgments Contributors Index

Rigorously referenced, this is an essential title for collections dedicated to Hispanic and Latine interests. (Booklist) Portraits of Persistence is an invaluable addition to any discussion of Latin America, poverty, political instability, neoliberalism, gender, indigenous populations, and more. It goes beyond what statistical or demographic descriptions provide to give a poignant view of the lives of ordinary humans in often extraordinary circumstances. It is ideal for courses in ethnographic research, sociology, political science, Latin American Studies and more, or as an interesting and informative read on its own. (Ethnic and Racial Studies) By situating each life story within its broader sociohistorical context, the writers and subjects of Portraits offer unique perspectives into Latin America’s complex reality - and offer deeply compelling stories of lives shaped by hardship and hope. (Extra Credit Substack by UT Liberal Arts) The chapters are deeply informed-most of the authors have known their subjects for years, even decades. The result is a collection of nuanced and insightful essays. Though informed by theory, the emphasis is on telling the life stories of each person. (CHOICE) This edited volume offers a compelling examination of the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary situations, going beyond the insights provided by traditional sociological analysis. The book is both an engaging and educational read on its own and an excellent resource for scholars seeking to understand how persistence is enacted in the daily lives of people across Latin America. (The Americas)