Peasants and Social Participation: The Case of the Chonchi Cooperative in Chiloe, Chile, (1973–1985)

Abstract

This article examines the particular characteristics of a peasant coopera tive in Chile by placing it within the context of the cooperative movement in Latin America and within the constraining clima te of functioning during Pinochet' s authoritarian regime. The Chonchi peasant cooperative successfully managed to become one of the most innovative and outward looking cooperatives of FECOSUR (Federation of Peasant Cooperatives of the South of Chile) in the late 1980's.The article stresses that even though the Chonchi cooperative functioned in an authoritarian system, unique regional circumstances permitted it to create a viable and effective niche wherein certain economic and politicai activities could take place. The case study illuminates some of the social, organizational and politicai issues facing cooperatives in Latin America, particularly under authoritarian regimes'.Résumé. Cet article étudie les caractéristiques particulieres d'une coopérative paysanne, en la plaçant dans le contexte d'un mouvement coopératif en Amérique !atine, puis dans le contexte du clima! restrictif du régime autoritaire de Pinochet. La coopérative paysane de Chonchi a pu devenir une des plus innovatrices et des plus ouvertes du FECOSUR (Fédération des coopératives paysannes du sud du Chili) à la fiin des années 80. Malgré le fait que la coopértive de Chonchi évoluait dans un systeme autoritaire, des circonstances particulieres à la région lui ont permis de créer un abri viable et efficace à l'intérieur duque! des activités économiques et politiques ont pu se dérouler. L'étude de cas met en évidence quelques préoccupations sociale, politique et organisationnelle devant lesquelles se trouvent les coopératives en Amérique !atine, en particulier sous un régime autoritaire.The development of the cooperative movement in Latin America has been shaped by highly heterogeneous conditions which were determined by the historical and cultural conditions of each nation. Different laws, state-cooperative relationships, internal and external factors gave rise to a variety of cooperative movements. However, there are important patterns that can be identified and can be useful for analyzing the case study of the Chonchi peasant cooperative.

The changing role of NGOs in rural Chile after democracy

“…My argument is that their new role and character entails having to leave behind some of the usual altruism associated with NGOs, and become more pragmatic, more effective, more opportunistic and certainly more efficient in terms that they would not have entertained before. Following a discussion of the NGOs' role since 1973, I examine the 5-year period of democratic rule using the example of the institutions that I worked with in Southern Chile (Lambrou, 1990).…”