Resource Mobilization and Political Process Theories in Latin America

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Abstract Resource mobilization theory and political process theory emerged in the 1970s and 1980s in the United States. They quickly became among the most influential approaches for studying social movements. This chapter illustrates their usefulness and limitations for studying Latin American social movements. Specifically, I discuss the extent to which the core claims, scope conditions, and assumptions of resource mobilization and political process theories are adequate for different types of Latin American social movements. I suggest that scholars of Latin American movements have long noted the relevance of resources, strategies, organizations, and political contexts, although with variegated vocabularies. I also argue that these theories provide a powerful perspective for understanding Latin American social movements, and that due to the contextual differences between the United States and Latin America, the latter provides an interesting setting for expanding and refining them.