(a) Features of New Social Movements in Latin America
Social movements in Latin America have historically played a crucial role in shaping political and economic transformations. While traditional movements focused on class struggle and labor rights, new social movements (NSMs) have emerged since the 1980s and 1990s, emphasizing identity politics, environmental issues, indigenous rights, gender equality, and resistance to neo-liberal globalization.
Key Features of New Social Movements in Latin America
1. Decentralized and Non-Hierarchical:
– Unlike earlier movements led by political parties or labor unions, NSMs are grassroots-driven, emphasizing horizontal leadership structures.
2. Focus on Identity-Based Struggles:
– Movements center around indigenous rights, women’s empowerment, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental justice, moving beyond traditional class-based struggles.
3. Opposition to Neo-Liberalism and Globalization:
– Many NSMs resist privatization, free trade agreements, and corporate exploitation of natural resources.
– Protests against land grabs, environmental degradation, and foreign mining companies have been significant.
4. Use of Alternative Media and Digital Activism:
– Social media and independent media outlets are used to mobilize communities, share information, and counter mainstream narratives.
5. Emphasis on Environmental and Indigenous Rights:
– Amazonian Indigenous Movements and anti-mining protests advocate for territorial autonomy and environmental sustainability.
Examples of New Social Movements
– Zapatista Movement (Mexico, 1994–Present): Indigenous-led resistance against economic globalization.
– Movimiento Sin Tierra (MST) in Brazil: Advocates for land reform and peasant rights.
New social movements in Latin America challenge state policies and corporate exploitation, advocating for inclusive, sustainable, and participatory development.
(b) Agrarian Populism in Mexico
Agrarian populism in Mexico refers to the political and economic policies aimed at promoting the interests of peasants and rural workers, particularly through land reforms and state-led rural development. This ideology became prominent during the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920) and influenced agrarian policies throughout the 20th century.
Key Features of Agrarian Populism in Mexico
1. Land Reforms and Redistribution:
– One of the most significant agrarian policies was the Ejido system, introduced after the revolution under the Constitution of 1917.
– Ejidos were communal lands distributed to peasant farmers, ensuring access to land for small-scale agriculture.
2. Strong State Intervention in Agriculture:
– The Mexican government provided credit, subsidies, and technical support to peasants through institutions like Banco de Crédito Rural.
3. Charismatic Leadership and Peasant Mobilization:
– Leaders like Emiliano Zapata championed agrarian populism, advocating for “Tierra y Libertad” (Land and Freedom).
– The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) used agrarian populism to maintain support among rural populations.
4. Opposition to Land Concentration:
– Agrarian populists fought against haciendas (large landholdings) and foreign control over Mexico’s agricultural resources.
5. Decline of Agrarian Populism:
– With the rise of neo-liberal policies in the 1980s and 1990s, state support for peasant agriculture declined.
– NAFTA (1994) led to increased competition from cheap US agricultural imports, further marginalizing small farmers.
Legacy of Agrarian Populism
– Movements like the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in Chiapas (1994-present) continue to fight for peasant rights and indigenous autonomy.
– Agrarian populism remains an influential rural political ideology, advocating for food sovereignty, land rights, and protection from corporate exploitation.
Agrarian populism in Mexico has shaped the country’s land reforms, rural policies, and peasant movements, leaving a lasting impact on its social and political landscape.
