A Tale Of Two River Plate Capitals: Exploring Urbanization And Political Participation in Latin America

This study navigates the relationship between urbanization and political participation in Montevideo and Buenos Aires, guided by two divergent theoretical perspectives. The sociological lens underscores the potential erosion of social bonds in large cities, where political socialization is constrained, and anonymity fosters disengagement from public life. In parallel, the socio-economic theory emphasizes the impact of urban economic growth, particularly through the burgeoning middle class, characterized by higher education and a predisposition towards diverse forms of political engagement. Against this backdrop, Montevideo exhibits a distinctive intra migration pattern, contributing to social stability, while Buenos Aires undergoes dynamic urbanization, shaping social differentiation. Actors in the local political landscape respond with nuanced strategies: in Montevideo, parties like Frente Amplio prioritize long-term relationships and membership activities, fostering stable support for political participation. In Buenos Aires, a short-term patronage-based approach prevails, aligning with personalized campaigns that contribute to higher levels of volatility. Crucially, the research emphasizes that political participation is woven into the local environment, reflecting the dynamic tension between sociological and socio-economic influences in shaping political behavior in these cities. Methodologically, this work encompasses discourse analysis of official party documents to unveil political ideologies and strategies, examination of opinion polls and citizen surveys, content analysis of political parties' social media to discern real-time engagement strategies, and evaluation of official reports and policy papers to provide a contextual understanding of governmental approaches to urban development.