The Social Underpinnings of Political Discontent in Latin America

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Häftad, Engelska, 2026

Av Gabriel Kessler, Maria Victoria Murillo

509 kr

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Why are Latin Americans increasingly disillusioned with democracy, even as the region has made social progress? This book examines the paradox of widespread political discontent amid improvements in poverty reduction, education, and expanded rights. It shows how rising expectations and broken promises have generated social frustration and political reactions, which take two different forms: they can target all political elites (vertical discontent) or focus on opposing political coalitions (horizontal discontent). Each form poses unique challenges for democracy. Bringing together leading scholars in sociology and political science from Latin America and the United States, the volume offers a multidisciplinary and comparative perspective on the drivers of democratic erosion. Drawing on empirical case studies and a shared analytical framework, the book sheds light on the tensions between democratic aspirations and lived experiences, making it a valuable resource for understanding the forces reshaping Latin America's political landscape and the broader erosion of democracy.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2026-08-31
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor250
FörlagCambridge University Press
ISBN9781009676144

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Gabriel Kessler is Professor of Sociology at Universidad Nacional de La Plata and the Universidad Nacional de San Martin, as well as Senior Researcher at CONICET in Argentina. Most recently, he is the author of Uneven Trajectories (2020) with G. Benza, and La era del hartazgo (Siglo XXI) with G. Vommaro. Maria Victoria Murillo is Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Columbia University. Most recently, she is the author of Non-Policy Politics: Richer Voter, Poorer Voter and the Diversification of Parties Electoral Strategies with Ernesto Calvo (2019) and The Politics of Institutional Weakness in Latin America (2020) with Daniel Brinks and Steven Levitsky.

Introduction: the social underpinnings of Latin American discontent Gabriel Kessler and María Victoria Murillo; Part I. Political Discontent in Latin America: 1. Scenarios of discontent: polarization, generalized unrest and divisive leadership Gabriel Kessler and Gabriel Vommaro; 2. Better polarized than unstructured? The underpinnings of political discontent with democracy in four (small) Latin American countries Juan Pablo Luna and Rodrigo M. Medel; 3. Mind the gap: the disconnect between the concerns of Latin American political elites, business elites, and the general public Gustavo Flores-Macías, Vincent Mauro and Mariano Sánchez-Talaquer; Part II. Origins of Political Discontent in Latin America: 4. The kids are alright: political generations, authoritarian legacies, and democratic attitudes Noam Lupu; 5. Young people and shifting political landscapes Nitzan Shoshan; 6. Criminal violence and democratic discontent Sarah Daly and Eduardo Moncada; 7. Unexpected guests: public opinion and political implications of Venezuelan immigration in South America Marcela Cerrutti; Part III. Mobilized Actors and Types of Political Discontent: 8. Informality, redistribution, and political discontent Gonzalo Assusa and Luis Beccaria; 9. The backlash against gender equality and sexual diversity: egalitarian trends and religious conservatism in changing societies Flávia Biroli; 10. Mobilizing indigenous discontent: the quest for collective rights in Bolivia, Chile, and Ecuador Carla Alberti; Conclusion: political reactions to changing expectations Gabriel Kessler and María Victoria Murillo; Appendices: online site.