El deseo de desarrollo

un movimiento contra la privatización del Parque Villa de Seris en Hermosillo, Sonra, México

Abstract

The paper analyzes a social movement in Hermosillo, Mexico
against the destruction of a public park. The central objective is to
show the importance of the cultural and political environment for
the development of collective actions as well as the difficulties
facing all civilian groups in Mexico that seeks to reverse a public
policy through non-violent means. The article suggests that the
variation of the following elements of the political opportunities
were determinant: 1) the consequences for social mobilization was
the existence of a coalition between the government and public
enterprises; 2) the existence or absence of institutional channels of
participation in decision making about the use of public space; 3)
the use of forms of repression towards the demonstrators; 4) the
interest that a society has for certain social movements. The case is
representative of the conflicts still present in the relationship that
some Mexicans state or municipal governments have with civil
groups.