Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Department of Social Sciences - Berlin Graduate School of Social Science

Cohort

BGSS Generation 2020

Title

Repression of dissent: State violence against social movements in Latin America

Supervisor

Prof. Dr. Anselm Hager

Abstract

During this past decade, we have seen a resurgence of social movements in countries with different types of regimes and governments. While the Arab Spring certainly set a precedent in the most recent studies of social movements, the world has witnessed a strong revival of social protests and collective action in multiple locations, such as Latin America and the US. Issues like systemic racism, discrimination, and social inequalities, have been the themes that marked this resurgence. Along with this, there has been another salient issue: the role of police and law enforcement institutions in the context of these protests. This dissertation will explore the relationship between repression and new social movements that have emerged in Latin America, in order to understand its dynamics, consequences, and sociopolitical responses. Also, it will study the role of governments inside this relationship, and how their actions may explain the level of repression that these social movements suffer. Through an analysis that considers both political and societal factors, this research will offer a new perspective on the role of repression in diverse democratic contexts.