eBook - PDF

The Illusion of Civil Society

Name: The Illusion of Civil Society
ISBN: 9780271035994

Democratization and Community Mobilization in Low-Income Mexico

Jon Shefner,

English
PDF
Available on iOS & Android

eBook - PDF

The Illusion of Civil Society

Democratization and Community Mobilization in Low-Income Mexico

Jon Shefner,

About this book

Much has been written about how civil society challenges authoritarian governments and helps lead the way to democratization. These studies show that neoliberal economic policies have harmed many sectors of society, weakening the state and undermining clientelistic relationships that previously provided material benefits to middle- and low-income citizens, who are then motivated to organize coalitions to work for greater social justice and equality. Recognizing this important role played by civil society organizations, Jon Shefner goes further and analyzes the variegated nature of the interests represented in these coalitions, arguing that the differences among civil society actors are at least as important as their similarities in explaining how they function and what success, or lack thereof, they have experienced.

Through an ethnographic examination extending over a decade, Shefner tells the story of how a poor community on the urban fringe of Guadalajara mobilized through an organization called the Unión de Colonos Independientes (UCI) to work for economic improvement with the support of Jesuits inspired by liberation theology. Yet Mexico's successful formal democratic transition, won with the elections in 2000, was followed by the dissolution of the coalition. Neither political access for the urban poor, nor their material well-being, has increased with democratization. The unity and even the concept of civil society has thus turned out to be an illusion.

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Yes, you can access The Illusion of Civil Society by Jon Shefner in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Social Sciences & Comparative Politics. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.