Back to social movements? Comments from the recent Brazilian literature

Abstract

In recent years, it is observed in Brazilian social sciences an apparent break with the trend of reflux in studies of social movements, from an increase in publications geared to the theme. In particular, a significant number of scientific  journals recently devoted issues to this topic. These publications seem to indicate a resumption as well as a  recovery of studies on social movements, and, more broadly, on the processes of organization and social mobilization. In response to this recovery, the goal of this paper is to map the theoretical and epistemological perspectives that characterize this recent literature by means of identifying the present approaches, and, eventually, those in dispute in the current field of research on social movements in Brazil. In addition, the article aims to identify the issues raised by this literature which would form the current research agenda in the field of Social Sciences. Finally, the article raises questions about some aspects of this literature, and points out the lack of issues that should be part of the research agenda.

Key words: social movements, collective action, associativism,  contentious politics, civil society.