Prácticas políticas cotidianas en un pueblo originario del Distrito Federal: el papel de los chismes y rumores

in this article the author explores the function of rumors and gossip as part of everyday political practices in the native village of san lorenzo acopilco. a number of social practices in this town create dense communication networks where gossip and rumor also flow. this represents an important source of information and a means for the shaping of policies. anthropological literature on gossip and rumor is reviewed which argues that these practices can exercise informal social control in specific contexts, or can relate with institutions of formal control. possible reasons for why gossip in this case does not have the power to control transgressions are explored, as well as the failure of formal social control. it is suggested that rumor and gossip have rather the effect of normalizing transgression, thus leading the way for others to do the same.