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Within a context where chauvinism prevails and the indigenous people continue to be excluded; do the NPCs promote the person and role of women and indigenous communities? Those issues are crucial to fortify the values of democracy in the country.\u000ATo find out to what extent the NPCs contribute to generate social capital\u000APutnam states that churches have a key role in generating social capital (1993: 89,167). This and the presence of voluntary associations are key factors to the advance of democracy in Latin America. Brasil points out these Evangelical churches could very well be an instrument to strengthen civil associations in the incipient associativism in Brazil in a context where the options available among the poorest are practically nonexistent (2002: 246).\u000AD. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE THESIS\u000AThe analysis of the social role and presence of the NPCs has to do with the discussion of social change from the perspective of political culture. Social science theorists give increasingly more importance to change that occurs within the sphere of culture. This focus helps to mark out religious phenomena within the existing structures of society. Change can be seen in daily lives and in the context of community better than in the socio-political structures.\u000AFor Martin it is primarily in the sphere of culture that religious changes operate and can be seen (1990: 267-68, 286). Beginning with his studies on Latin American Protestantism, he emphasizes that \u2018the contemporary Evangelical [...] has walked out of the extant structures and devised an experimental capsule or cell in the interstices of culture. Here he may reinvent himself in an atmosphere of fraternal support and give tongue to his frustrations and aspirations\u2019 (1990: 286). He underlines that \u2018Evangelical religion represents an advanced form of social differentiation and can operate best where hitherto monopolistic systems are disintegrating\u2019, and emphasizes that, \u2018[...] Evangelical\u000A7\u000A


































































































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