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The Rising Power of Slum Democracy

by Raúl Zibechi

Across Latin America, people are exercising a different kind of democracy
– one that changes lives but rarely hits the headlines. Leading Uruguayan
writer Raúl Zibechi tracks this ‘democracy of the future’.

‘In the classroom we are all equals,’ says
Marisel, a woman of around 40 who is already
a grandmother.

We are in the shanty town of Las Tunas, built
by its occupants on an enormous rubbish tip 40
kilometres from the centre of Buenos Aires.
Marisel is participating in a bachillerato
populare – an informal educational system
for which the literal translation is ‘popular
baccalaureate’. Continue reading →