Barras Bravas in South America: An Approach to Their Cultural and Organizational Practices

This research project focuses on analyzing the sociocultural construction of "Barras Bravas" in Latin America, identifying them as complex social organizations deeply rooted in the urban context. The main objective is to demonstrate how these groups enable the existence and survival of hundreds of thousands of people through their inherent cultural systems. The methodology combines the anthropological method with Cultural Materialism, focusing on the axes of meaning and the material base (economic and social structures) of these organizations. The study will seek to articulate the dynamics of the Barras Bravas with symbolic systems of emancipation and liberation, as well as with prevailing economic interests. Data collection tools include participant observation as a permanent instrument, Participatory Action Research (PAR) to uncover violence dynamics, and limited use of quantitative tools, such as small-scale surveys, to generate a baseline of knowledge supporting future, deeper investigations into the phenomenon.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To demonstrate how social organizations known as "Barras Bravas" are constructed from complex, deeply rooted cultural systems within urban environments, which enable the existence and survival of hundreds of thousands of people in Latin America.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>nan