The Illusion of Civil Society

The Illusion of Civil Society: Democratization and Community Mobilization in Low-Income Mexico, volume 1, provides a detailed sociological analysis of political processes and community organization. Jon Shefner examines how neoliberal economic policies impact social justice and equality within the context of globalization. This social science text investigates the complex relationships between state weakening and the formation of coalitions among low-income citizens seeking material benefits.

Through an ethnographic study of a community near Guadalajara, this political science work explores the role of the Unión de Colonos Independientes and the influence of liberation theology. The book analyzes how democratization and political ideologies shape urban mobilization and the subsequent dissolution of social coalitions. This study in sociology and political science challenges traditional views on how civil society functions during democratic transitions, questioning the actual impact of political access on the material well-being of the urban poor.