The following discussion aims to illustrate the range of studies and research that have dedicated themselves to explain the growing importance of political participation in the sphere of consumption. In many recent studies the politicization of consumption is seen as a relevant factor in the formation of a new consciousness of citizenship. Such politicization is often associated with participation in movements that are organized to defend consumers' interests. Following this line of reasoning, using a comparative analysis, this paper aims to clarify the connection between the main themes present in the history of consumer movements in Brazil. As an important result of this analysis, we highlight the agenda that guided the consumer movements in the 1970s, namely the issue of cost of living, and the process of transformation of this agenda until the current focus on social and environmental sustainability.
consumption; consumer movements; political action