Protest, Social Movements, and Malaise in Political Representation in Argentina

Abstract

This chapter examines the relationship between social protest and malaisein political representation in present-day Argentina. To this end, it looksat the role that social movements and protest activities play as expressionsof a particular type of malaise in representation.The recent history of Argentina shows that malaise in representationis a persistent characteristic of the functioning of a democraticregime.1 Similarly, social mobilization and, in particular, protests andstreet demonstrations are a habitual feature of the country's politicallandscape. How are these two phenomena related In order to addressthis question, we examine a particular aspect of malaise in representation disaffection with political parties and its relationship with thedynamics of mobilization and protest in the country's current politicalsituation.