Abstract, Doing Politics Differently: Middle-Class Youth and Politics in Contemporary Lima

:::::: Abstract ::::::

Doing Politics Differently: Middle-Class Youth and Politics in Contemporary Lima

by Franka Winter

Two recent studies of the political identities, discourses, utopias, and practices of young middle-class people in contemporary Lima indicate that, contrary to a common narrative of “antipolitics,” they had a critical rather than a negative relationship with politics. While they largely rejected traditional political institutions and identities, they had strong political values and ideals and many ideas for change. They were looking for a different way of doing politics rather than a retreat from it and pursued this through a diverse range of political practices. However, these discourses and practices had certain limitations, in particular with respect to their ability to forge strong alliances and bring about substantial change.


Dos estudios recientes sobre las identidades políticas, discursos, utopías y prácticas de jóvenes de clase media en Lima contemporánea indican que, contrariamente a una narrativa común de “antipolítica”, tenían una relación crítica más que negativa con la política. Si bien rechazaron en gran medida las instituciones e identidades políticas tradicionales, tenían fuertes valores e ideales políticos y muchas ideas para el cambio. Estaban buscando una forma diferente de hacer política en vez de retirarse de ella y la persiguieron a través de una amplia gama de prácticas políticas. Sin embargo, estos discursos y prácticas tenían ciertas limitaciones, en particular con respecto a su capacidad para forjar alianzas sólidas y lograr cambios sustanciales.

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