The Geographies of Latin American Social Movements Are More Than Just Territories in Resistance

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article analyses social activism in Latin America in the light of its recent transformations, with an emphasis on the interactions between movements and political institutions. Based on a critical review of geographical literature, the authors argue that although the concept of territory remains relevant, it is not enough to understand the complexity of mobilisations at the moment. The concept of ‘political space’ is proposed as an analytical lens to understanding the multiple arenas—formal, informal, symbolic and material—in which activism operates, articulating both contestation and institutional co‐production. The article highlights the plural and often contradictory spatialities that shape contemporary social struggles and aims to contribute to a situated and relational approach that draws from Latin American debates.