Do labor unions still motivate their members to participate in politics, or have social and economic changes undermined their political importance? This question is important to revisit, as globalization and economic reform have weakened many popular sector organizations in Latin America, reducing some to mere patronage machines. This article examines the case of the teachers’ union in Bogotá, Colombia to assess whether and how labor unions are able to promote the political activation of their members. Employing a multimethod research design that begins with a quantitative analysis of a survey of Colombian teachers, this study finds that union affiliation is associated with higher levels of motivation to vote. It then uses evidence from interviews to show how union advocacy and internal elections for leadership positions shape political behavior, contributing to civic engagement. This research engages with broader debates about democratic quality and political representation in contemporary Latin America.

中文翻译：

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工会隶属关系和公民参与：哥伦比亚波哥大的教师

工会是否仍然激励其成员参与政治，或者社会和经济变化削弱了他们的政治重要性？重新审视这个问题很重要，因为全球化和经济改革削弱了拉丁美洲许多受欢迎的部门组织，使一些组织沦为单纯的赞助机器。本文考察了哥伦比亚波哥大教师工会的案例，以评估工会是否以及如何能够促进其成员的政治活动。本研究采用多方法研究设计，从对哥伦比亚教师调查的定量分析开始，发现工会归属与更高水平的投票动机相关。然后，它使用采访中的证据来展示工会宣传和领导职位的内部选举如何塑造政治行为，促进公民参与。这项研究参与了有关当代拉丁美洲民主质量和政治代表性的更广泛辩论。