| Elections and social protest are the two most important means of political participation in Latin America today. Every year, millions of Latin Americans go to the ballot box to elect their representatives, but millions also march to their country’s capitals to oust elected politicians or simply to demand public goods or policy changes. Are Latin American citizens taking to the streets to contest market-oriented reforms, as it is often portrayed? Or do they take to the streets because elections don't work in Latin America's dysfunctional democracies? Are citizens electing leftist politicians to move the economies away from neoliberal policies? If so, why do only a few presidents in the region enjoy legislative majorities? Why do citizens split their vote? Do the rich vote and the poor protest? In this course we want to understand who votes, who protests, and why they do it. We also want to understand the relationship between elections and protest. The course first introduces students to the literature on electoral behavior and social protest and presents an overview of elections and social mobilization in the region. We then analyze six countries: Bolivia, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, and Guatemala. We assess public opinion surveys and other scholarly work on elections and protest by country. |
