Social change in Latin American social theory: Revolution and actors in three movements

Abstract

In this work the author analyzes the development of Latin American social theory in three periods. In the first which corresponds to the decade of the sixties, he says that contrary to what occurred on other places, social change and the prospect of revolution formed a central core of thought. In the second, the end of the seventies and the decade of the eighties, the rediscovery of Gramci and the enthusiasm surrounding the study of social movements resulted in the abandonment of the concepts of revolution and social class. Finally, in the third period, that of today, the author says the conservatism disguised as political realism that pervades social theory sterilizes the possibilities of creating a new world.