The Struggle Was Not Only in the Streets: The Collective Action Framework of the October 2019 Protests

The present article analyzes the October 2019 protests in Ecuador from the perspective of the collective action frames that positioned the Indigenous Movement as a leading actor. Through a qualitative approach based on digital content analysis—primarily videos, public statements, and secondary sources—the study identifies the diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational frames that shaped the trajectory of the popular uprising. The findings reveal the structural causes that triggered the social unrest, such as Executive Decree No. 883 and the neoliberal economic measures promoted by the government in power, along with elements of State violence, as well as the identification of those responsible, the proposal of concrete solutions, and the generation of public support. The study argues that the Indigenous Movement succeeded in transforming a sectoral protest into a national mobilization, generating an inclusive narrative that articulated both historical and contemporary demands. The research concludes that frame analysis allows for a deeper understanding of how social actors construct meaning, legitimacy, and support in contexts of political and economic crisis.

• Main Author: Guevara, Steven (author)
• Format: article
• Language: spa
• Published: 2026
• Subjects: Derogatoria; Marco de Diagnostico; Marcos de acción colectiva; Movimiento indígena; Violencia; Repeal; Diagnostic Frame; Collective Action Frames; Indigenous Movement; Violence
• Online Access: https://revistadigital.uce.edu.ec/index.php/CSOCIALES/article/view/8166