Uruguay's Turn to the Left: the role of social organizations and organic intelectuals

Acevedo, Soledad

4. term

Development and International Relations, Master

2020

2020-05-29

44 pages

The aim of this project is to understand the role of social organizations and intellectuals with regards to their contribution in spreading the vision and principles of the Broad Front as a coalition of left-wing parties and movements in Uruguay, ultimately leading to the party’s victory in presidential elections, marking a milestone in Uruguayan history. To achieve this I have conducted an analysis using two distinct theories. The first one is Antonio Gramsci’s Theory of Cultural Hegemony and the second one is Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe’s Discourse Theory. On the other hand, I have gathered relevant empirical data in order to build up a background of information of the specific country and continent to provide a better understanding of the phenomenon being analysed. Moreover, the relevant qualitative data has been collected in relation to Uruguayan social organizations and intellectuals that have had a significant participation in civil society in the period 1990-2009 and which I have identified to share the same values and principles as the Broad Front. Regarding social organizations, I have firstly studied their worldview in relation to the antagonism and dominant worldview at the time, and I have later analysed the social actions these groups have carried out following this worldview. As for organic intellectuals, I have firstly studied their background in relation to their formal adherence to the Broad Front and secondly, I have identified their most relevant works within the defined time period which have contributed in the most significant way to the spreading of their worldview and of the Broad Front’s ideas. The worldview of the Broad Front is very much shared between the analysed social groups and organic intellectuals. As key actors in the Uruguayan civil society, especially when taking into account the Latin American context of the time, they have had great significance in articulating and spreading the world perspective of the indicated left-wing party, and have indeed contributed to establishing a common sense in line with it in the Uruguayan society. Moreover, social groups have been found to having greater influence in this process due to the quantity and quality of the actions they have carried out.

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