Volume 31, Number 6

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The Emergence of sub-Regional Representative Institutions in South America in the twenty-first century: Difference, Similarity and Path Dependence

There is a large body of research dedicated to exploring the concept of regionalism (including ‘old’ versus ‘new’ regionalism) and how this applies to Latin America. Subsequently, this thesis poses the question of whether market-led regionalism can be used to deliver greater inclusivity and socially progressive policies that increase equality in Latin America. In this vein, this thesis argues that regionalism studies do not provide the key to understanding why there still seem to be under-represented groups who are suffering injustice despite recent changes in the political landscape in Latin America, particularly in terms of regional levels of projects and policies. Within this context, this thesis develops a conceptual framework that distinguishes different phases of Latin American new regionalism. Subsequently, this study focuses on exploring the degree to which local actors’ involvement in the procedure of regional projects, which is one of the characteristics of regionalism, is well-studied and understood. Specifically, the research will explore in-depth the regional projects and policies of the Initiative for Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA) under the umbrella of the Union of South America (UNASUR). For explorative purposes, this study was conducted at a local level, in which structural projects (i.e. the building of roads and bridges) are taking place. This study is centered upon a case study of several local areas in the state of Acre in Brazil, where one of ten region-wide projects, so called ‘Axes’, is actively progressing. In order to understand the changing context of South American regional integration, our analysis requires a focus on the following two factors: the historically-embedded societal structure and the increasing presence of China in the region. Specifically, this thesis highlights China as a new superpower entering this scene to replace the U.S., previously the sole actor in this region. It argues that despite this changing context and the rising power of China, it has not had a major impact on regionalism itself as well as increasing public input in regional governance, although it facilitates Latin American regional development and enhances geo-political status by reducing their dependence on the U.S. Finally, this round of research found that there is significant continuity in the lack of public engagement at the level of regional projects in South America, even when leftist governments, in this case in Brazil specifically, are in power

Kenyon Collegian - April 28, 2005

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Gezi assemblages: emergence as embodiment in the Gezi movement

La present tesi és un treball interdisciplinari en què es troben la filosofia política, els estudis de moviments socials, la sociologia i els estudis científics i tecnològics, que aspira a plantejar la qüestió de l'emergència de les noves comunitats dissidents a espai(s) Occupy recuperat(s), a través de dades procedents del Moviment Gezi, mitjançant les observacions participatives realitzades durant la mobilització, les entrevistes amb activistes i l'anàlisi de les actes de les assemblees. Aquesta tesi té com a objectiu proporcionar un relat empíric de l'experiència viscuda de la mobilització, per tal d'ocupar-se de l'emergència d'aquests col·lectius, seguint les pràctiques, la instauració i les actuacions de vida/protesta durant el desenvolupament del moviment. Parar atenció a l'experiència viscuda d'un moviment controvertit, específicament d'un moviment Occupy en què la creació d'un espai per a viure dins dels espais públics recuperats esdevé política, requereix que els aspectes corporals i afectius de fer-se comunitat siguin tinguts en compte correctament.La presente tesis es un trabajo interdisciplinario en el que se encuentran la filosofía política, los estudios de movimientos sociales, la sociología y los estudios científicos y tecnológicos, que aspira a plantear la cuestión de la emergencia de nuevas comunidades disidentes en espacio(s) Occupy recuperado(s), a través de datos procedentes del Movimiento Gezi, mediante las observaciones participativas durante la movilización, y a través de las entrevistas con activistas y el análisis de las actas de las asambleas. Esta tesis aspira a dar un relato empírico de la experiencia vivida de la movilización, para atender a la emergencia de estos colectivos, siguiendo las prácticas, la instauración y las actuaciones de vida/protesta a lo largo del movimiento. Atender a la experiencia vivida de un movimiento controvertido, específicamente de un movimiento Occupy donde la creación de un espacio para vivir dentro de los espacios públicos recuperados se convierte en política, requiere que los aspectos corporales y afectivos de hacerse comunidad se tomen debidamente en consideración. Proporciona, pues, los medios para reflexionar sobre la emergencia de nuevas comunidades de Gezi como encarnación que suma para convertirse, es decir, un proceso dinámico que señala encuentros en espacios públicos recuperados donde las capacidades afectivas de los cuerpos, es decir, la fuerza, se incrementan en forma de nuevas alianzas.This thesis is an interdisciplinary work that combines political philosophy, social movement studies, sociology and science and technology studies. It aims to problematize the issue of the new dissident communities emerging in the reclaimed Occupy space(s) based on data from the Gezi Movement, compiled through participatory observations during the mobilization, interviews with activists and an analysis of assembly minutes. Through this study, the thesis aspires to give an empirical account of what the mobilization was like for participants so as to better understand how these collectives emerge. To do so, we tracked the the life/protest-making practices, enactments and performances throughout the course of the movement. In order to correctly analyse people's experience of a controversial movement, especially one like Occupy, where making a living space in reclaimed public space(s) becomes political, the bodily and affective aspects of community-making must be taken into consideration