An approach to the neoliberal and conservative channeling of social discontent in Costa Rica (2019-2020)

Abstract

Introduction: At the global and regional level, neoliberal sectors, neo-Pentecostal and neo-integrist organizations, and in general the «new right», have directed efforts to channel social unrest and discontent towards the reinforcement of the neoliberal and conservative project.  Within this framework, they have played a leading role in collective actions with a diversity of repertoires of action.

Objective:  To reflect on the presence of neo-Pentecostal and neoliberal discourses, demands, and actors to channel and guide social discontent in Costa Rica in collective actions and social protest movements, based on two «protest swarms» that occurred during the government of Carlos Alvarado Quesada (2018-2022).

Method: A chronological and analytical description is made of two "protest swarms" that occurred during the government of Carlos Alvarado Quesada (2018-2022), based on press information and records compiled from the Collective Actions Database of the Institute of Social Research of the University of Costa Rica. The first, are the student and transportation protests of June-July 2019. The second is the citizen protests against the agreement with the International Monetary Fund in October 2020. For its analysis and interpretation, national and Latin American bibliography on social conflict during the Alvarado government, neo-Pentecostalism, new right-wing and conservative protests is used.

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