New social movements, structural change, and the urban poor : lessons from Mexico and Brazil

Abstract

This thesis examines the viability of New Social Movements in Latin America to effectively address the structural issues of urban poverty within the contexts of Mexico and Brazil. It begins by exploring the theoretical issues surrounding New Social Movements; the distinctions between protest, political integration, and poverty alleviation from a variety of perspectives; and the impact of liberation theology throughout the region. A number of New Social Movements are analyzed, primarily through a Mexican case study, and discussed within the context of World Systems Theory. The conclusions suggest that unless New Social Movements in the region consider urban poverty as a derivative of the structural oppression of peripheral societies within the global system, they will be unable to properly articulate their demands for a more just and equitable society.