Political Opportunity Structure, Social Movements, and Malaise in Representation in Uruguay, 1985–2014

Abstract

Uruguay shows a contradiction. The values found for the attitudinal dimensions of malaise in representation are low and, in this sense, malaise in representation is weak. On the other hand, however, the behavioral dimensions of malaise have high values compared to Chile and Argentina. We argue that this contradiction is only apparent. Between 1985 and 2014, some particularities of the Uruguayan political system and its institutional framework operated virtuously, channeling social demands institutionally. This resulted in a system of representation in which social protests (the behavioral dimensions of malaise) acted as a way of integrating citizens into the political system, rather than being a symptom of problems of representation. As a consequence, the attitudinal dimensions of malaise have been historically low in this country.

This study benefited from the generous collaboration of the academics Alfredo Falero, Anabel Rieiro, Soledad Bonapelch, Carlos Muñoz, Diego Sempol, and Paulo Ravecca, all of whom we would like to thank. We would also like to thank the activists we interviewed who, through their testimonies, made a fundamental contribution. The research received the support of the Centro de Estudios de Conflicto y Cohesión Social (COES), CONICYT/FONDAP/15130009.