Compensatory policies to combat poverty and social control in Latin America: three emblematic cases: Chile, Brazil and Mexico

Abstract

The goal of this article is to reflect upon compensatory programs – elected to the purpose of poverty’s obliteration – capacity to exert social control among their targeted population. For that it is developed an analytical methodology consisting of, the identification of a basic bio-political paradigm in the region that gives meaning and content to emblematic compensatory programs; followed by a compared examination of its design, general contexts of implementation, and results; paving the way to think its capacity of social control. The analyzed programs are: FOSIS-Chile (Chile), Bolsa Família/Fome Zero (Brazil), Progresa-Oportunidades (Mexico).