In 2011, the organized university student movement goes to the streets to protest the higher education system. This moment inspires other movements, such as the Revolución Democratica, Autonomistas and Esquerda Autónoma, and gives rise to three leaders, who were elected as independent candidates to the Federal Congress. The movements from which they came organize into political parties and, in 2017, construct the “Frente Amplia de Esquerda,” which elects 21 representatives, 20 congressmen and one senator, as well as supporting presidential candidate Beatriz Sanches, who comes in third.

The student movement “Yo soy 132/I am 132” arises in 2012, after university students impede a visit by the thenpresident Peña Nieto. When he counterattacks, saying that their demonstration had been organized by the leftist parties, the students mobilize on the internet and bring thousands of people to the streets. This process helps sanction a political reform that allows for greater political participation, providing for independent candidacies, for example. Wikipolitica then configures itself as a movement that supports independent candidacies and elects Pedro Kumamoto to congress in 2014. In 2018, he is running for senate.

In June of 2013, demonstrations against the rise in bus fares spread through the streets of Brazil’s major cities in an uprising that mobilizes all parts of society, not just the left. The unsatisfied right wakes up, too, making their own claims and demands. The impeachment of President Dilma in 2016 and the frequent cases of corruption reveal the need for national political reform and renewal. Movements like the Bancada Ativista in São Paulo and Muitxs in Belo Horizonte begin their work. Other renovation movements such as Agora, Acredito and Renova follow suit.

In response to a situation in which 70% of Uruguayans said they were in favor of the reduction of the age of legal responsibility, young students mobilize debates in the universities, at home and on the internet, creating the largest mobilization in the country. In 2014, they are able to block the measure, winning a huge victory for the movement and also strengthening civil society. They take advantage of the timing and mobilize to protect other civil rights, such as the legalization of marijuana and gay marriage.

In June of 2015, news of the murder of a fifteen year old girl in Santa Fé mobilizes people quickly on Twitter and escalates to the streets in an uncommon, organic way, bringing together more than 300,000 people from different social classes, ages and places to call for an end to femicide. “Ni una a menos/Not one less” also helps to pass Law 26.585, which protects the lives of women, as well as spreading the message throughout the country and region.

When the president decides to extract petroleum from the soil of the Yasuni park, which has the greatest biodiversity in the country and is an indigenous reserve, a movement of youth organized in many environmental collectives collects more than 800,000 signatures calling for a referendum that would impede the extraction of resources from the park. Even though the government does not approve the referendum and attempts to control the movements, the impact of this environmental and civic mobilization is huge, with society coming out in force.

After denouncing corruption involving the President and Vice President, civil society calls for them both to renounce their posts. This is important because it happens in a country with a history of violence, political persecution and armed conflict, a society that always lived in the shadow of authoritarianism. A Facebook event called RenunciaYA/ Renounce Now mobilizes 25,000 people and convinces the president to step down. This wakes a generation up to new ways to enter into politics. And this is symbolic, because these young people were raised in a country that that has long been afraid of standing out and occupying public posts. Their mobilization contaminates all generations of Guatemalan society.

In 2015, the government makes an announcement about the peace deal with the FARC while the opposition disseminates fake news and political propaganda. This polarizes society around a question that could not be simplified. The peace deal does not pass and young people, leveraging their sadness and deception, promote meetings and debates that end up concentrating in the Bolivar Plaza, headquarters of the central government. They occupy the plaza, putting pressure on the government to continue the talks. Because of this, the deal is maintained. Insurgence springs from young people who were previously afraid to become involved in politics. In this context, they began to converse, become involved and occupy politics to guarantee civil and human rights.

Through the 21F referendum, Evo Morales consults society about his fourth reelection. Young people speak out against the measure and prevent it from passing. They understand that despite the advances of his government, not holding elections presumes a dictatorial system. For them, the regular changeover of power is necessary. Yet again, the youth take the helm to resignify the democratic system and occupy politics. The movements FUR (a party that seeks to run candidates in 2019) and OTRA ESQUERDA POSSIBLE give rise to a new left that is seeking a more just democracy.

The elected president declares in his campaign that he will not run for re-election. However, at the end of his mandate, he makes a political and judicial arrangement to re-elect himself. This provokes a popular uprising in March 2017. Despite the uprising, the next day, the measure is approved. Thousands of people, representatives of all social classes, ages and genders go to the streets in a violent uprising against this move, causing the president to go back on his decision.