The Political Determinants of Protest in Argentina

Abstract

Recent events in Argentina represent an intriguing puzzle for students of contentious politics. Argentina ranks among Latin Americaﾒs most developed countries, boasting relatively high per capita income, impressive levels of education and human capital, and widespread support for democracy. Yet the contemporary political climate in this large South American nation is one of heated conflict between citizens and government, including widespread, and oftentimes violent, mass protest. These incidents thus raise an exceedingly important question: Why has Argentina experienced such high levels of protest in recent years? Utilizing data from the AmericasBarometer 2008 round of surveys, I propose and test a political institutional explanation of protest participation in Argentina. I argue that protest has become an integral component of the countryﾒs everyday political life, as Argentines have taken to the streets in response to inefficacious representative institutions. Thus, contrary to the common notion that Latin American protest movements are motivated by relative deprivation or the mobilization of resources, I find that protest can become part of the repertoire of conventional responses to an ineffective political system.