The union factor
How collective action democratised Uruguay’s police
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12364282 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Federico del Castillo (0000-0001-9759-720X, Universidad de la República de Uruguay, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 1-15 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-26 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Policing & Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1043-9463 • E-ISSN: 1477-2728 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10439463.2026.2634109 |
| OpenAlex | W7133908654 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 20 |
This article explores the democratisation of Uruguay’s National Police (UNP) from 1985 to 2020, emphasising the pivotal role of police unions. Drawing on ethnographic research, it argues that police democratisation can emerge from grassroots movements, specifically subaltern police personnel mobilising for their rights through unionisation and collective action, building what is termed the ‘police worker repertoire’. This transformation enables subaltern officers to challenge hierarchical command structures and foster more egalitarian relationships within police work. Additionally, police unions have brought internal policing issues into public discourse, breaking traditional political practices dominated by higher ranks. The article contributes to policing literature by framing democratisation as an ongoing process, highlighting the significant shift in the UNP’s dynamics and positioning police unions as key interlocutors in shaping institutional power and engaging with political authorities.
Action (physics · Collective action · Context (archaeology · Work (physics · Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance · Political Conflict and Governance · Politics and Society in Latin America
Una mirada antropológica a la reforma policial uruguaya y su ocaso
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The Untold Story
The human right of police to organize and bargain collectively
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The Social Life of Politics
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Police worker politics in India, Brasil, and beyond
The Right to Unionize, the Right to Bargain, and the Right to Democratic Policing
Changing Police Culture
Contentious Repertoires in Great Britain, 1758-1834
The Contentious French
Processes and Mechanisms of Democratization
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |