{"product_id":"the-illusion-of-civil-society-jon-shefner-9780271033846","title":"The Illusion of Civil Society: Democratization and Community Mobilization in Low-Income Mexico","description":"\u003cp\u003eMuch has been written about how civil society challenges authoritarian governments and helps lead the way to democratization. These studies show that neoliberal economic policies have harmed many sectors of society, weakening the state and undermining clientelistic relationships that previously provided material benefits to middle- and low-income citizens, who are then motivated to organize coalitions to work for greater social justice and equality. Recognizing this important role played by civil society organizations, Jon Shefner goes further and analyzes the variegated nature of the interests represented in these coalitions, arguing that the differences among civil society actors are at least as important as their similarities in explaining how they function and what success, or lack thereof, they have experienced. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough an ethnographic examination extending over a decade, Shefner tells the story of how a poor community on the urban fringe of Guadalajara mobilized through an organization called the Unión de Colonos Independientes (UCI) to work for economic improvement with the support of Jesuits inspired by liberation theology. Yet Mexico's successful formal democratic transition, won with the elections in 2000, was followed by the dissolution of the coalition. Neither political access for the urban poor, nor their material well-being, has increased with democratization. The unity and even the concept of civil society has thus turned out to be an illusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Jon Shefner\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0271033843\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780271033846\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Penn State University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/01\/2008\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 240\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.05lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.20h x 6.20w x 0.80d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChronicle of Higher Education\u003c\/i\u003e 02\/13\/2009 pg. 21\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/01\/2009","brand":"Jon Shefner","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48064809500927,"sku":"9780271033846","price":66.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_5a5fe973-774f-4df3-979f-681e9fdb172c.jpg?v=1768671174","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-illusion-of-civil-society-jon-shefner-9780271033846","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}