Resist and persist: the dimension of persistence in collective action

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to examine the dimension of persistence as an analytical category for collective action. For this, the results of a doctoral thesis are presented. There, the processes of political subjectivation of young people who organize and support –for more than fifteen years– popular mobilizations against police violence in Córdoba, Argentina, were studied. The collective action considered was the so-called Marcha de la Gorra, on which an ethnographic work was carried out with a psychosocial perspective. In addition to the preparation of field notes, in-depth interviews and short interviews, called ongoing conversations, were conducted. More than sixty young activists participated in these instances. From the production of data and analysis in a sustained manner, the dimension of the persistence of the March was gaining analytical significance. After eight years of duration, the longitudinal study allowed to consider the qualitative value of the persistence of collective action and its implication on the subjectivity of young people. Likewise, it was shown as a key dimension in the establishment of connections between the action in the public space and their daily territories.