Representation in action. Social protest and political change in Argentina (2011-2019)

Abstract

The political field after 2001 was formed around two clear poles in ideological terms, social bases and socio-economic programs: one of the center-left that had promoted the recreation of a movementist grammar organized electorally in the Frente para la Victoria and a center-right pole with a liberal type of grammar, represented by Cambiemos. Despite their differences, our assumption is that both coalitions had in common that they emerged from the protest. What do these poles share in terms of the political culture of the time? How were they built as coalitions based on social mobilization processes? What political narratives were developed regarding the political representation that had been questioned until then? The objective of this article is aimed at analyzing the interaction between the field of social and political mobilization in Argentina between 2011 and 2019 by considering its effects with respect to political representation, emphasizing its destituent character but mainly instituting and co-creator of political representation. The argument we follow is that both cycles of mobilization had a type of relationship with the political field, in which the leading actors opted for the renewal of political narratives and the formation of coalitions that would allow the construction of a new competitive offer to contest the presidential elections.