Social Movements and Processes of Political Change: The ...

Social Movements and Processes of Political Change:

The Political Outcomes of the Chilean Student Movement, 2011-2015 Yelena Margaret Bid?

PRIMARY THESIS ADVISOR: ARNULF BECKER LORCA The Watson Institute for International Studies

SECONDARY THESIS ADVISOR: JANICE GALLAGHER The Watson Institute for International Studies

HONORS SEMINAR INSTRUCTOR: CLAUDIA J. ELLIOTT The Watson Institute for International Studies Senior Thesis

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honors in International Relations BROWN UNIVERSITY PROVIDENCE, RI MAY 2015

? Copyright 2015 by Yelena M. Bid?

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ABSTRACT What are the political outcomes of social movements, and how are these outcomes achieved? Existing studies focus almost exclusively on policy change, thus underestimating the broader political impact of social movements. I study the case of the Chilean student movement (2011-2015), and find that it had six political outcomes, which it achieved through three causal mechanisms. Using process tracing, content analysis, and interviews with student leaders, I conclude that the political outcomes of social movements extend beyond the realm of policy and that non-institutional outcomes-- particularly changes in political consciousness--are important forms of political change. By altering the way citizens perceive and engage with their political institutions, noninstitutional outcomes can have long-term implications for a country's political system and culture. Moving beyond existing scholarship, I develop an original theoretical framework that offers a multidimensional conceptualization of the relationship between collective action and political change. To more fully understand the protests and social movements that continue to emerge across the globe, scholars must study their outcomes in both the institutional and non-institutional arenas. Keywords: social movements, political change, non-institutional outcomes, political consciousness, causal mechanisms, Chile

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project would not have been possible without the support and guidance of my advisors, friends, and family. To you all, I offer endless thanks. To my advisor, Professor Becker Lorca, for agreeing to work with me when my thesis was still just a hazy idea, and for your persistent willingness to talk through the big picture. To Professor Gallagher, for going far above and beyond the role of a second reader; for your consistent support even as you were finishing your dissertation and for always encouraging me to push my argument a step further. To Dr. Elliott, for your copious edits, unwavering dedication, and your ability to see my ideas clearly even when I could not. Thank you to the Brown library staff, especially Patrick Rashleigh, Bruce Boucek, and Carina Cournoyer, for helping me discover new research tools and putting up with my lack of technological abilities. Thank you to my friends, both near and far, who patiently listened to my ramblings and talked me through many episodes of writer's block. For your moral support and willingness to hash through ideas with me, I am eternally grateful. Finally, to the Bid?s: Mum, Papa, Jas, and Jules, for encouraging me to take on this project and reminding me of all the reasons I wanted to write a thesis (especially in moments when I didn't). For the phone calls, the edits, and the reality checks. For reminding me that, despite the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean, I can always count on you.

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