How Party Activism Survives: Uruguay's Frente Amplio

Political parties with activists are in decline due to various external shocks, but recent scholarship has shown how activism still matters for representation. This book contributes to this literature by analyzing the unique case of the Uruguayan Frente Amplio (FA), the only mass-organic, institutionalized leftist party in Latin America.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 214 pages
Publication date: 23 December 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Political parties with activists are experiencing a decline due to a multitude of external shocks. Societal changes, such as the emergence of new communication technologies, have diminished the role and number of activists, while party elites have become increasingly capable of functioning without the support of grassroots activists. Nevertheless, recent scholarship in different democracies has demonstrated the importance of activism for representation. This book contributes to this literature by examining the unique case of the Uruguayan Frente Amplio (FA), the only mass-organic, institutionalized leftist party in Latin America. Through the use of thick description, systematic process tracing, and survey research, this case study highlights the value of an organization-centered approach for understanding parties' role in democracy. Within the FA, organizational rules grant activists a significant voice, which imbues activists' participation with a strong sense of efficacy. This book is an invaluable resource for scholars and students of Latin America and comparative politics who are interested in political parties and the challenges confronting new democracies.

Weight: 336g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108719377
Edition number: New ed