{"id":17779,"date":"2025-06-02T09:02:59","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T09:02:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ulexproject.org\/?page_id=17779"},"modified":"2025-12-01T20:51:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T20:51:55","slug":"learning-from-latin-america","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ulexproject.org\/ca\/other-project-strands\/learning-from-latin-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning from Latin America"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Strategies for Alliance-Building and Strengthening Political Power<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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[Versi\u00f3n en espa\u00f1ol\u00a0aqu\u00ed<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>

What can European movements learn from the transformative strategies and enduring alliances forged in Latin American movements? This new video resource explores the experience of Uruguay\u2019s <\/span>Frente Amplio<\/span><\/i> \u2014 a broad-based progressive coalition with over 50 years of history and experience \u2014 offering concrete lessons on how social movements and political institutions can co-create long-term strategies for radical change.<\/span><\/p>

Since its founding in 1971, the <\/span>Frente Amplio<\/span><\/i> has managed to unite a wide spectrum of political and social forces, from trade unions and neighbourhood assemblies to feminist groups and left parties. Not only has this coalition endured, but it has achieved institutional power \u2014 forming national government multiple times \u2014 while navigating internal tensions, evolving social dynamics, and mounting global crises.<\/span><\/p>

This case study offers a selection of interviews with both founding members and a new generation of activists engaged in rethinking and reshaping the coalition for today\u2019s challenges. The core of the resource is a six-part video series aiming to provoke reflection, discussion, and offer a basis for inspiration and improved strategic thinking among European activists and organisers.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A short introductory conversation with the series creators, Carol Marin and Maria Llanos:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Why Now? <\/span><\/h2>\n

Across Europe and beyond, we face a deepening polycrisis. Ecological, economic and political breakdowns converge, while far-right narratives take hold, polarising societies and occupying institutional ground. In many contexts, progressive movements are fragmented, struggling to offer compelling, collective alternatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do we build strategic coherence without erasing diversity?<\/span>
<\/span>What kinds of alliances can hold \u2014 not just tactically, but over decades?<\/span>
<\/span>How do we overcome ideological fragmentation and sustain effective movement building? <\/span><\/p>\n

This project doesn\u2019t offer easy answers, but an opportunity to learn from a political process that has weathered dictatorship, electoral politics, internal conflict, and shifting terrain \u2014 and still endures.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What’s in the Series? <\/span><\/h2>\n

Drawing from the rich history of the <\/span>Frente Amplio<\/span><\/i>, this resource opens up themes highly relevant to the European context today:<\/span><\/p>\n

– Historical roots of the coalition: what gave rise to it, how it evolved, and what parallels and contrasts exist with current conditions in Europe<\/span>
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– The role of civic participation and grassroots education in sustaining long-term collective projects<\/span>
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– Feminist perspectives and leadership within broad alliances: inclusion, power, and relational politics<\/span>
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– Movement-party relationships: navigating the tensions and synergies between the streets and institutions<\/span><\/p>\n

– Lessons on internal democracy, pluralism, and shared strategy across ideological divides.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Who’s it for?<\/span><\/h2>\n

This series is created for activists, organisers, and collectives across Europe \u2014 those seeking to build stronger coalitions, deepen democratic practices, and strategise for large-scale social transformation. It builds on Ulex\u2019s broader work around movement learning, and is informed by insights from our <\/span>Ecology of Social Movements<\/span><\/i><\/a> training and the <\/span>Movement Learning Catalyst<\/span><\/i><\/a> initiative.<\/span><\/p>\n

This series is an invitation to step into active political learning \u2014 grounded, critical, and urgently needed.<\/b><\/p>\n

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Episode One: Keys to Understanding the Frente Amplio: A Historical Overview<\/span>
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Ricardo Ehrlich <\/strong>\u2014 Uruguayan scientist, politician, and long-time activist \u2014 shares insights into the <\/span>Frente Amplio<\/span><\/i>\u2019s history, internal structure, and key lessons from its different phases of development. Drawing from his unique trajectory that spans both revolutionary activism and institutional politics, Ricardo reflects on the tensions and synergies between these spheres. He speaks to how the <\/span>Frente Amplio<\/span><\/i> has adapted to evolving challenges, and emphasises the enduring role of militancy as a deeply held political commitment. His perspective offers a valuable window into the coalition\u2019s historical journey and ongoing transformation.<\/span><\/p>\n