Children's movements and horizons of peace: An approach to agency in three Latin American experiences

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of the social, political and economic activities of three children's movements in Latin America: the Movement of Working Boys, Girls and Adolescents NATs (Peru), the Responsibility, Hope, Courage, Expression, Struggle, Rights, Explosion Assembly (REVELDE) (Argentina) and the Guardians For Life Movement (Colombia). The objective has been to identify the processes of collectivization and agency constitution of the infants, as well as the impacts produced in the structures as an effect of said agency. It was also proposed to analyze children's agency in relation to values ??of peace, to reflect on their proposals as civilizing possibilities. To this end, this study was approached from sociological bases, through the Structuration theory and the Philosophy for Peace, particularly through the epistemological turn. Qualitative techniques were used, such as the semi-structured virtual interview and peripheral observation in digital environments. The results allow us to suggest that the children's agency in these movements is detonated from unfavorable structural conditions and solidifies through collectivization, where emotionality and rationalization impregnate feelings of empathy, solidarity and identity that allow us to imagine less violent horizons. It is concluded that the influence of children's agency on social structures is diverse and indirect, but that it can be materialized on legislation and participation spaces. The children's agency offers characteristics to think about other political and epistemological frameworks, and raise possibilities of non-adultcentric, biocentric and peaceful relationships.