Linking civil society and the state : urban popular movements, the left, and local government in Peru : 1980-1992

With the role of local government becoming more important as Latin American countries moved away from state-led development models in the 1980s, and with social movements helping to bring about the transition to democracy, questions arose about whether and how popular participation at the local level might be able to contribute to the consolidation of democracy from the grassroots upward. This book, based on extensive research in low-income districts of Lima, provides a sophisticated analysis of the relationship between a resurgent civil society and democratization. Exploring the complex interactions among urban popular movements, local government, political parties, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), Schönwälder shows that the democratic potential of these movements is genuine but that their influence has been limited. His balanced assessment credits their achievements while illuminating the sources of their failures, mainly a variety of institutional barriers and a persistent threat of manipulation and co-optation by stronger actors, especially political parties. His analysis helps us understand better why the left has so often failed to convert its considerable support at the grassroots into political successes at higher levels.

With the role of local government becoming more important as Latin American countries moved away from state-led development models in the 1980s, and with social movements helping to bring about the transition to democracy, questions arose about whether and how popular participation at the local level might be able to contribute to the consolidation of democracy from the grassroots upward. This book, based on extensive research in low-income districts of Lima, provides a sophisticated analysis of the relationship between a resurgent civil society and democratization.

Exploring the complex interactions among urban popular movements, local government, political parties, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), Schönwälder shows that the democratic potential of these movements is genuine but that their influence has been limited. His balanced assessment credits their achievements while illuminating the sources of their failures, mainly a variety of institutional barriers and a persistent threat of manipulation and co-optation by stronger actors, especially political parties. His analysis helps us understand better why the left has so often failed to convert its considerable support at the grassroots into political successes at higher levels.

Urban Popular Movements In Latin America: Identity, Strategy, And Autonomy -- Decentralization And The Participation Of Urban Popular Movements In Local Government -- Urban Popular Movements, Political Parties, And The State In Peru -- The Peruvian Left And Local Government In The Early 1980s -- The Barrantes Administration Of Metropolitan Lima, 1984-1986 -- Revolutionary And Radical-democratic Approaches In Conflict. Gerd Schönwälder. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 211-231) And Index. An analysis of the relationship between a resurgent civil society and democratization. Exploring the interactions between urban popular movements, political parties and nongovernmental organizations. Designed to provide a balanced assessment citing achievements and failures. "Gerd Schonwalder is Senior Program Specialist for the Peacebuilding and Reconstruction Program Initiative at the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa, Canada."--BOOK JACKET