Piqueteros after the hype: unemployed movements in Argentina, 2008-2015

[journal article]

Abstract

The Argentine unemployed movement of the piqueteros was a key socio-political player in the early 2000s. Although public and academic attention paid to these piqueteros has decreased notably since 2010, they continue to be active. This article provides an empirical update to the existing research on... view more

The Argentine unemployed movement of the piqueteros was a key socio-political player in the early 2000s. Although public and academic attention paid to these piqueteros has decreased notably since 2010, they continue to be active. This article provides an empirical update to the existing research on Argentina’s unemployed movement by analysing how distinct piquetero organizations have adapted to evolving political and socioeconomic changes during the presidency of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (2008-2015). In drawing on social movement research, we suggest a number of mechanisms that can help to explain the continuing existence of the piqueteros. While a persistent focus on grassroots work has been identified as key to their existence, adaptation to the changing political and socioeconomic context has meant that core claims related to the very issue of (un-)employment, including the demand for dignified work, have largely been dropped from the political agenda of various piquetero organizations.... view less

Keywords
Argentina; political movement; social policy; unemployment; protest movement; South America

Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture

Free Keywords
Verhältnis Bevölkerungsgruppen - Staat; Desintegration

Document language
English

Publication Year
2016

Page/Pages
p. 47-68

Journal
European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies (2016) 102

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18352/erlacs.10112

ISSN
1879-4750

Status
Published Version; peer reviewed

Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution 4.0