Abstract

GUARANA DE CASTRO, Elisa. Rev. argent. sociol. [online]. 2008, vol.6, n.11, pp.237-256. ISSN 1669-3248.

Social movements in Brazil and other Latin American countries are org anizing today around youth identity, introducing themselves as political actors. The rural youth is mobilizing around specific claims, but also for more general issues. On the one hand, being young in social movements also implies limitations as regards participation, the possibility of being heard, and a difficult access to decision-making levels. On the other, this political actor is faced with further obstacles. In rural Brazil, this social identity becomes visible and more organized in the 2000s, meaning a generation that views itself as such and challenges an unequal, conflictive rural world deprived of the access to goods and services and still lacking an agrarian reform. In order to analyze these topics and discuss current "new political practices" I suggest a two-fold approach. First, to review the notion of "generation," in terms of youth as a social and political category, by analyzing the organizational processes of some rural social movements in Brazil today in light of the notion of generation and the processes of political commitment and participation as elements of collective action. Second, to analyze political practice in rural social movements in Brazil based on their youth org anizations, and follow the continuities, tensions, and possible transformations in the political actions of rural youth.

Keywords : Youth; Political commitment; Political identity; Generation; Political practice.

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