New Forms of Spontaneous Organization in Land Occupations after the Social Uprising: The Case of Osorno, 2019

Abstract

This article examines the process of disanchoring traditional sociopolitical alliances in recent land occupations (tomas de terreno) in Chile, focusing on the case of the city of Osorno following the 2019 social uprising. Unlike in previous periods—when political parties, social movements, or religious institutions played a key intermediary role—current dynamics reveal a spontaneous organization led by actors excluded from the formal housing system. Through a qualitative methodology—including ten semi-structured interviews and an analysis of the local press—the study explores the conditions that enabled the reactivation of this repertoire of collective action. The findings indicate that the uprising opened a window of opportunity for autonomous mobilization, driven by emotional and cognitive transformations that gave rise to new forms of organization. These forms are characterized by principles of equality, intensive use of social networks, and a strong component of community work. It is proposed that these experiences be interpreted as expressions of situated agency, which challenge institutional pathways to housing access and reframe the territory as a political space.