[CMI-Chiapas] Americas Program | Dangerous Liaisons

[IRC Communications]

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What's New at the AmericasProgram
“A New World of Ideas, Analysis and Policy Options”
http://www.americaspolicy.org/

December 8, 2004
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New from the IRC's Americas Program:

A Panorama of Social Movements in South America
Dangerous Liaisons: Center-Left Governments & the Grassroots
By Raul Zibechi

Grassroots movements often become prisoners of their own success. This is the 
essential paradox and challenge of popular struggle. When movements develop 
the ability to mobilize large numbers of people and gain influence in the political 
arena, they create a new scenario that often turns against them. Too often, 
their success weakens and even divides social justice movements, thereby leading 
to a period of withdrawal and demobilization. 

Latin America has seen the rise of center-left governments, or governments 
that before assuming power embraced an anti-neoliberal program. In Peru, Alejandro 
Toledo gained office thanks to a broad-based movement that ousted Alberto Fujimori. 
Colonel Lucio Gutierrez rose to the presidency of Ecuador largely due to the 
support of a powerful indigenous movement. In Argentina and Brazil, Nestor 
Kirchner and LuizInacioLula da Silva became presidents in the wake of vast 
social movements that weakened or caused crises in the prevailing neoliberal 
model. 

In none of these countries have the new political realities succeeded in completely 
demobilizing popular movements. Indeed, the new conjuncture presented by the 
ascent of progressive governments has in some cases led to a strengthening 
of grassroots movements. At the same time, though, the new political context 
marks another starting point for social movements. The experiences in Ecuador, 
Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil represent important lessons (and warnings) for 
social movements in other countries that sooner or later will face a series 
of dilemmas and challenges that have no easy answers.

RaúlZibechi is a member of the editorial staff of the weekly Brecha de Montevideo, 
a teacher and researcher on social movements at MultiversidadFranciscana de 
AméricaLatina, and an adviser to several social groups. He is a monthly contributor 
to the IRC’s Americas Program (online at http://www.americaspolicy.org). 

See full article online at:
http://www.americaspolicy.org/reports/2004/0412movements.html 
 
With printer-friendly PDF version at:
http://www.americaspolicy.org/pdf/reports/0412movements.pdf
 
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Interhemispheric ResourceCenter (IRC)
http://www.irc-online.org
Siri D. Khalsa
Outreach Coordinator
Email: communications at irc-online.org

 

 

 

Siri D. Khalsa
Communications Coordinator
Interhemispheric Resource Center (IRC)
siri at irc-online.org

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