Neoliberalism, corruption, and legacies of contention -: Argentina's social movements, 1993-2006

Beginning in 1993, an innovative grassroots wave of social and political contention spread throughout Argentina. A heterogeneous mass of unemployed and otherwise disadvantaged citizens created alternative means of dissent and organizations that displaced traditional institutions such as unions and political parties as the main channels of societal representation. The development of this wave of contention was related to the negative consequences of neoliberal reforms, embedded in a long-standing crisis of institutional legitimacy, and inspired by a rich legacy of social and political activism. The institutionalization of the movement contributed to its growth and longevity but lessened its radical character and its potential to become a competitive governing force.