New Publication Highlights Strategic Insights on Social Movements and Social Change in Latin America and the Caribbean

We are pleased to share the recent publication “Social Movements, Social Change, and International Cooperation: Strategic Insights from Latin America and the Caribbean”, co-authored by Cássia Ayres (UNICEF Latin America and the Caribbean), Jair Vega-Casanova, and Jesús Arroyave Cabrera (Universidad del Norte, Colombia). The article was published in Social Sciences (Vol. 13, Issue 12) as part of the Special Issue “Reconceptualising Communication for Development: A Critical Appraisal of the Field.”

Cássia Ayres is a valued collaborator of MeLCi Lab – Media Literacy and Civic Cultures, and we congratulate her on this significant contribution.

The article examines the complex role of social movements as agents of change in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially in the context of rising anti-democratic and anti-rights mobilizations. Drawing from the Latin American tradition of social and behaviour change (SBC), the authors reflect on how strategic alliances with grassroots movements can promote social justice while respecting their organic structures.

By questioning whether movements with popular roots but hegemonic agendas should be considered legitimate social movements and exploring how SBC strategies can counteract anti-human rights forces, the paper offers timely reflections for scholars and practitioners in the fields of communication for development and international cooperation.

The full article is available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13120639