Defying Expectations: Associational Participation and Democratization in Poor Communities in Argentina

Alexis de Tocqueville noted that the key to democracy is "knowledge of how to combine." This dissertation focuses on the following question: Can participation in associations facilitate democracy within the communities in which they exist even if such associations are not democratically organized - i.e., vertical, hierarchical organizations. To consider this question, this dissertation explores a poor community's transition from a sparse to a highly developed associational space, and examines the impact of this process of democratization on social relations at both the associational and the personal levels (between leaders, participants, and non-participants). Specifically, I compare three different associational settings in a barrio in Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina -- i.e., a non-governmental organization, a religious network, and a political party network -- to assess whether democratization can occur with the construction and communication of symbolic meaning and objective practices by vertically structured, hierarchical organizations. I analyze the interplays between inclusion and exclusion; solidarity and generalized distrust; and inequality and protagonism. Ultimately, this dissertation demonstrates how the configuration of social relations serves to legitimate and reproduce civic life in poor communities. This dissertation is based upon extensive ethnographic observations in three different associations and the community itself, as well as upon qualitative interviews with community leaders, participants, nonparticipants, politicians and academics

‘Populism’ in Guyana and Newfoundland

SUMMARY Populist development, as an alternative to large?scale capitalist development, is sometimes interpreted as a form of ‘transition to socialism’, or even as socialism itself. This article examines two areas, Newfoundland and Guyana, where populist strategies have been so presented and concludes that this interpretation is difficult to sustain. RESUMEN ‘Populismo’ en Guyana y Newfoundland El desarrollo populista, como alternativa al desarrollo capitalista en gran escala, se interpreta a veces como una forma de ‘transición al socialismo’ o incluso como socialismo propiamente tal. Este artículo examina dos áreas, Newfoundland y Guyana, donde las estrategias populistas han sido presentadas de esa forma y concluye que esta interpretación es difícil de sostener. SOMMAIRE ‘Populisme’ en Guyane et Terre Neuve Le développement populiste, en alternative au développement capitaliste à grande échelle est parfois interprété comme une forme de ‘transition au socialisme’ ou même comme du socialisme. Cet article examine deux régions, Terre Neuve et Guyane, ou les stratégies populistes ont été appliquées et conclut en estimant que cette interprétation est difficile à soutenir

Micro-development initiatives, horizontal linkages and solidarity action : cases from Peru and Nova Scotia

iv, 87 leaves ; 28 cm.Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-87).I, Natasha Sacouman argue in Micro Development Initiatives, Horizontal Linkages and Solidarity Action: Problems and Prospects in Nova Scotian and Peruvian Cases, that micro development initiatives are necessary but insufficient when working independent of one another in empowering development as I define it. On the other hand, horizontal networks of micro initiatives towards 'solidarity action' can provide a basis for empowering, transformative, structural changes that both address and improve the lives of the vast majority of the population. This thesis assesses the problems and prospects of building horizontal linkages towards solidarity action by focusing on the cases of Fishnet in Nova Scotia and nongovernmental organizations in Peru. It concludes with a sober assessment of the problems in building these horizontal networks. Nevertheless, a set of preliminary proposals is offered that enables and supports the establishment of horizontal networking. It also provides direction for building a unified effort towards eliminating the constraints of the various aspects of poverty