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Civil Society in Latin America: Experiments, Resilience, New Utopias

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Patricia Maria E. Mendonça Open the ORCID record for Patricia Maria E. Mendonça [Opens in a new window]  and
Humberto Muñoz Grandé Open the ORCID record for Humberto Muñoz Grandé [Opens in a new window]
Patricia Maria E. Mendonça*
Affiliation:
School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of Sao Paulo, Rua Arlindo Béttio, 1000, 03828-000, São Paulo, Brazil
Humberto Muñoz Grandé*
Affiliation:
School of Social Responsibility, Universidad Anáhuac México, Av. Universidad Anáhuac 46, Col. Lomas Anáhuac., Huixquilucan, Estado de México C.P. 52786, México
*
pmendonca@usp.br
humberto.munoz@anahuac.mx
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Abstract

This paper introduces the special issue focused on Latin America and the Caribbean (LA&C), featuring five papers penned by local authors. Reviewing Voluntas journal's main topics concerning LA&C as grassroots movements within civil society, the third sector including its definitions and institutional context, philanthropy, and volunteer work. After organizing these discussions, we summarize the five papers included in this special issue. We connect these papers with broader debates in the LA&C literature and emphasize their unique contributions. A significant amount of the LA&C research relies on case studies. We advocate for increased usage of local databases to conduct quantitative studies. Furthermore, while most theoretical models use non-local frameworks, we encourage research that presents fresh theoretical viewpoints to enrich the debate.

Keywords

Latin AmericaCaribbeanGrassrootsSolidarity EconomyPhilanthropy

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