The union factor

How collective action democratised Uruguay’s police

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12364282
AutoresFederico del Castillo (0000-0001-9759-720X, Universidad de la República de Uruguay, autor correspondente)
Ano2026
Volume36
Fascículo5
Páginas1-15
Data de publicação2026-02-26
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPolicing & Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1043-9463 • E-ISSN: 1477-2728
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10439463.2026.2634109
OpenAlexW7133908654
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas20

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