Los movimientos sociales urbanos. Un análisis de la obra de Manuel Castells

Abstract

The notion of 'Urban Social Movements' (USM) is examined here through the work of Manuel Castells. Firstly, we consider the limits reached by this field of research the last three decades in order to explain the transformations experimented by traditional USM and the coming on new ones. Secondly, three theoretical stages in the work of Castells are identified. Thirdly, we revisit the four main critiques directed to Castells on USM: autonomy of USM from other social struggles, the analysis of USM effects, the explanative capacity of relevant social contexts to the USM and the central emphasis given to its internal social relations (social origins, movements organizations and resources, etc.). As a whole, this paper tries to demonstrate that valuable theoretical contributions of Castells must be complemented and modified by these critiques, even when this sociologist did not accept them in a congruent integration.