Revisiting the concepts of social and political: social movements, democratization processes and new institutions

Abstract

In the last decade, significant changes have occurred in Latin America since the emergence of governments called "progressive" or "left" that affected the dynamics of various forms of social movements. The purpose of this article is to revisit two key concepts in theories of collective action and social movements: the social and the political. The argument to be held is that instead of thinking them a dichotomous relationship as a separate spheres, have it in the key of the articulation. This conceptual shift will redefine the relationship between the processes of democratization and social movements, for which we introduce a sociopolitical concept of institutionalization. The premise underlying this pose argues that social movements form a democratic experimentation space, whose potential is not reduced to question the social order but also the possibility of creating new institutions. In this sense, the dilemma is not whether they belong exclusively to the sphere of civil society or integrated into the political system, but rather run through both. From empirical Argentine case with a reflection that allows us to expand the horizons hitherto have thought social movements and their links with politics.