ISARC10InternetForum

Abstract ID# 76274
Title: Europe One Hundred Years from Now: Towards Democratic Control of the Economy
Keywords:
economic democracy and social ownership

Gerard KESTER, retired, Netherlands
Abstract:

The core values liberte, egalite, fraternite were proclaimed in the 19th century but did not result in durable institutions that gave flesh and blood to these principles. When by the end of the 21st century Europe was 're-invented' in a second Enlightenment which led to the United States of Europe (see twin paper for RC 07) these values were re-examined and broadly debated. Also democratie was re-examined and now intrinsically linked to freedom, equality and solidarity, as an ideology on its own - replacing the 'invisible hand' of neoliberalism by the visible citizen, in an economy that was democratically controlled.
For long private ownership had been the foundation of the economy. This was engrained in national constitutions of EU member states as well as in the officious Constitution of the EU. This relationship between democracy and capitalism was now revised as democracy is incompatible with the full primacy of private ownership - especially in as much as it yields owner power over other people's life. Social ownership was the new perspective: whereas private ownership remained respected in the private domain - in the public domain the production of goods and services came under democratic control.
The European Constitution was changed (in 2100) and stipulated the primacy of social ownership. It also elaborated principles of economic redistribution as well as direct and indirect forms of democratic control of the production process. Moreover, a generous welfare state ensured the realisation of equivalence and solidarity.
Ownership could still yield capital income to investing private owners but the running of the enterprise and the distribution of accumulated wealth were subject to democratic procedure. The concepts capitalism, communism, liberalism and socialism were thrown in the trash. Production relations were no longer a permanent conflict between capital and labour but a partnership of capital, labor and other stakeholders.

Kester Vienna ISA paper 2016.pdf

Abstract ID# 73678
Title: Comparative Analysis of Workers' Self-Management in Yugoslavia and Argentina
Keywords:
Argentina, Workers’ self-management and Yugoslavia

Irena PETROVIC, The University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy, Serbia, Alberto Leonard BIALAKOWSKY, Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina and Maria IGNACIA COSTA, Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Buenos Aires., Argentina
Abstract:

Throughout history, on the level of particular historical societies, workers’ self-management has emerged in specific phenomenal forms. One ideological and organizational experiment of exceptional originality has definitely been the system of workers’ self-management in Yugoslavia. It represented, at least on the plane of imagination, an unprecedented democratic as well as civilizational progress in general in the process of achieving a strong influence of employees on all aspects of their working life
On the other hand, deepening of the economic crisis in Argentina in the late 1990s and early 2000 was followed by the emergence of enterprises that had been occupied (recovered) by their employees (Spanish - Empresas recuperadas por sus trabajadores – ERT). Recovered enterprises in Argentina have been operating in the form of worker cooperatives and represent a new model of collective action of a part of the working class, in response to the crisis of primitive accumulation of capital. In addition, the emergence of such enterprises in Argentina has reiterated the historical and cognitive importance of studying workers’ self-management.
Basic difference between the models of workers’ self-management in these two societies, apart from a different temporal and contextual framework in which they emerged, is that the model of workers’ self-management in Yugoslavia has been introduced ‟top-down” by the ruling stratum, while Argentina’s model born ‟bottom-up”. In addition, the difference between the two models is also reflected in the fact that this system failed to survive in Yugoslavia, despite a highly developed institutional structure. In Argentina the phenomenon keeps going on despite the economic growth and the increasing of employment.
With this in mind, we are trying to determine here major factors in the failure of the model of workers’ self-management in Yugoslavia, as well as the possibility that such a model would work out in Argentina.

ISA-Yugoslavia-Argentina-Bialakowsky et al-v.6-final.doc

ISA-Yugoslavia-Argentina-Bialakowsky et al-v.7-english version (comments v.v.).doc

Abstract ID# 78992
Title: Is the Self-Management Possible? a Study on the Recovered Factories in Brazil
Keywords:
cooperativism, recovered factories, self-management and work

Aline PIRES, Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Brazil
Abstract:

The context generated by the productive restructuring associated with financial crises and changes in the Brazilian economy in the late 1990s led to the collapse of many companies and resulted in increased unemployment and increasing instability and insecurity of labor relations. Thus, workers sought other forms of livelihood, including the associated work. ANTEAG (Associação Nacional de Trabalhadores em Empresas de Autogestão e Participação Acionária) [National Association of Self-Management Companies’ Workers] emerged in this context, with the goal of supporting groups of workers to unite and take control of bankrupt factories in which they worked, preserving their jobs. So, the first “recovered factories” emerged. At this time, the movement of the Solidarity Economy also begins to grow, and Unisol Brazil (Central de Cooperativas e Empreendimentos Solidários) [Central of Cooperatives and Solidary Enterprises] arises to support various types of solidary economic enterprises, including the recovered factories. Thus, our purpose is to make a general analysis of the current situation of recovered factories in Brazil. To do this, we return to some of the pioneering experiments of recovered companies. Our goal here is to discuss if and how cooperative and self-managed values are present in these enterprises today. So, we performed a literature review of case studies about recovered factories and visited several experiences of this type, where we conducted observations and interviewed leaders and workers, using semi-structured scripts. In addition, we seek to look at our subject from an international perspective, so we visited Argentina and France. In general, we note that, although the ideals of cooperatives and self-management remain in the speeches of many workers, their enforcement encounters many obstacles in practice. In other words, to be viable, recuperated factories face many pressures in the market, which eventually modify some of your initial goals.
https://isarc10internetforum.wikispaces.com/file/detail/Aline+Suelen+Pires+%28paper%29.pdf
New paper version:

Aline Suelen Pires - new version.pdf

Abstract ID# 75916
Title: Quel Futur Pour L'industrie Kibboutzique?
Keywords:
changement social , industrie and kibboutz

Yuval ACHOUCH, Western Galilee College, Israel; The Institution for the research of the kibbutz and the cooperative idea, Israel
Abstract:

Quel futur pour l'industrie kibboutzique?
Jusqu' a la fin des 90, prés de 270 kibboutzim fonctionnaient comme des communautés de production et consommation sous un régime de propriété collective des moyens de production. Déjà durant les années 60, l'industrie était devenue la première source de revenus des kibboutzim, devançant ainsi l'agriculture. Malgré le succès de son industrie durant plusieurs décennies, et suite a la crise des années 1985-2005, le kibboutz a largement renonce a ses principes d'autogestion, de participation et de démocratie au travail. Suite a la crise, la gestion technocratique et la hiérarchie ont été renforce, et un vent de privatisation a souffle sur le kibboutz (celle des revenus avec l'introduction du salaire, puis celle des logements, et des moyens de production avec un système d'actionnariat.)
Les conséquences de ces changements se manifestent aujourd'hui:
- Si le taux de croissance annuel des ventes de l'industrie kibboutzique entre les années 2000-2008 était de 8,4% (de 19 a 37 milliard de shekels), il est passe a -2,1% (35milliard en 2013) dans les années 2009-2013.
- 346 entreprises étaient affiliées à l'association de l'industrie kibboutzique en l'an 2000. En 2014 il n'en restait plus que 224.
- Alors que 122 entreprises ont été vendues a des investisseurs prives depuis l'année 2000, dans la même période seulement deux nouvelles entreprises kibboutziques ont vu le jour (site internet de l'association de l'industrie kibboutzique: www.kia.co.il ).
Ces quelques faits soulèvent de nombreuses questions concernant l'avenir.
Les buts de cette intervention seront:
- Une présentation plus détaillée de la situation actuelle a partir des données fournies par l'association de l'industrie kibboutzique et celles disponibles dans la presse spécialisée.
- Repérer plus précisément les causes de l'évolution de l'industrie kibboutzique de ces 10 dernières années.
- Tracer les différents scénarii possibles pour l'avenir de l'industrie kibboutzique.

Follows corrected translation of the abstract from Franch to English, done with the help of https://translate.google.com/
- please improve further:

Until the end of the 1990s, nearly 270 kibbutzim functioned as production and consumption communities under collective ownership regime of means of production. Already in the 1960s, the industry became the main source of kibbutzim income, surpassing thus agriculture. Despite the success of its industry for decades, and following in the crisis years of 1985-2005, the kibbutz has largely renounced its self-management principles, participation and democracy at work. Following the crisis, the technocratic management and hierarchy have been strengthened, and a privatization wind began to blow on the kibbutz (privatization of the revenue with the introduction of salary, then ptivatization of the housing and the means of production through a system of shareholding.)
The consequences of these changes manifest themselves today:
- If the annual growth rate in sales of kibbutz industry between the years 2000-2008 was 8.4% (19 to 37 billion shekels), it went down to -2.1% (35milliard in 2013) in the years 2009-2013.
- 346 firms were affiliated to the association of the kibbutz industry in 2000. In 2014 there remained only 224.
- While 122 companies were sold to the private investors since 2000, in the same period only two new kibbutz enterprises have emerged (website of the Association of the kibbutz :www.kia.co.il).
These few facts raise many questions about the future.
The goals of this intervention will be:
- A more detailed presentation of the current situation based on data provided by the association of the kibbutz industry and those available in the trade press.
- To identify more precisely the causes of changes in the kibbutz industry in the last 10 years.
- Charting the different possible scenarios for the future of the kibbutz industry.

the future of the kibbutz industry 09.06.16.doc

Abstract ID# 76425 Title: Autogestión y Recuperación De Empresas Por Trabajadores En La América Latina: Estudios Comparativos, Reflexiones Metodológicas y Políticas.Keywords: América Latina, Empresas recuperadas, autogestión and trabajo
Comments to Organizers: Dear organizers, I send the abstract in spanish, but I can also try to prepare the presentation in english, if necessary.Thank you for your attention.

Vanessa SIGOLO, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil
Abstract:

El artículo presenta un estudio sobre experiencias contemporáneas de autogestión en la América Latina, a partir del análisis de casos de recuperación de empresas por trabajadores en Brasil, Argentina y Uruguay, especialmente. Este fenómeno emergió en el contexto de redemocratización de la región y grave crisis económica en las décadas de 1980 y 1990, y sigue con nuevos casos en la actualidad. Primeramente, se expone la trayectoria de la investigación llevada a cabo por investigadores y militantes en los diferentes contextos y condiciones en los países. También se presenta la articulación e intercambio entre los centros universitarios, el histórico de encuentros y seminarios internacionales y sus principales resultados. Finalmente, se expone el cuadro general de las experiencias, indicando análisis comparativos acerca de sus características singulares en los países y también sus proximidades y semejanzas. El trabajo comparativo fue desarrollado con datos de los relevamientos nacionales realizados desde 2003, en Argentina, y en 2012 y 2013, en Brasil y Uruguay. Después de la presentación y análisis del cuadro actual de las experiencias, se propone un debate acerca del significado político del fenómeno en el capitalismo contemporáneo. Para el enfrentamiento de la pobreza, desigualdad social y extrema explotación del trabajo que caracteriza secularmente la historia de los países latinoamericanos (y sigue marcando sus sociedades en el mundo contemporáneo), las experiencias de autogestión indican caminos importantes, en la lucha por trabajo digno, la democratización de la economía, la política y la sociedad. En esta región del planeta, pero también delante los desafíos globales de la humanidad en el siglo XXI, las experiencias de creación de nuevas relaciones sociales de producción, con base en relaciones asociativas y democráticas de trabajo y de propiedad, indican cambios importantes en las condiciones de trabajo y de vida, que necesitan de investigación sociológica y de grande atención.

Follows corrected translation of the abstract from Spanish to English done with the help of https://translate.google.com/ - please improve further:

The article presents a study on contemporary experiences of self-management in Latin America, starting from the analysis of cases of recovery of companies by workers in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, in particular. This phenomenon emerged in the context of democratization of the region and serious economic crisis in the 1980s and 1990s, and continues with new cases today. Firstly, the course of the investigation conducted by researchers and activists in different contexts and conditions in the countries is discussed. The coordination and exchange among international universities, historical meetings and seminars and their main results are also presented. Finally, the overall picture of the experiences, indicating comparative analysis of their unique characteristics in the countries and also their proximity and similarities are exposed. The comparative study was developed with data from national surveys conducted since 2003 in Argentina and in 2012 and 2013, in Brazil and Uruguay. After the presentation and analysis of the current frame of experiences, a discussion on the political significance of the phenomenon in contemporary capitalism is proposed. To cope with poverty, social inequality and extreme exploitation of labor that characterizes secular history of Latin American countries (and continues to mark their societies in the contemporary world), the experiences of self management indicate major roads in the struggle for decent work, the democratization of the economy, politics and society. In this region of the planet, but also before the global challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century, the experience of creating new social relations of production, based on associative and democratic labor relations and property, indicate significant changes in conditions of work and life, they need sociological research and great attention.

Abstract #82240The Concepts and Practices of Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management in the Futures We Want
Vera VRATUSA, Sociology, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia- retired

Paper investigates changing meaning and popularity of the main concepts constituting the name of ISA RC 10 on participation, organizational democracy and self-management, judged by the content analysis and frequency of their use in relevant sociological research, in the socio-historical context of a contradictory process of transition from proto-socialist state capitalism to full legal restoration of hierarchical and crisis ridden system of world capitalist economy, albeit dominated by emerging new hegemonic strong nation state(s) of the center, on the one hand, and contestation of this restoration in former Third, Second and First Worlds, through perpetual reemergence of social movements attempting to transcend production of exchange values for private profit by social production of use values for development of human capacities of each individual as condition for simultaneously economic, political, social and cultural freedom, equality and solidarity of all in humanized nature and naturalized humanity.
The main thesis of the paper is that the main difference between concepts and practices of participation of stakeholders in decision making and profits and integral self-management of producers at the work place and consumers in the community from local to global levels of social self-organization, presents orientation on conservation, reform or overcoming of class division of labor on rulers and ruled and its legal expression, private property.
Paper calls sociologists to self-reflection while answering the questions implied by the title of the 3rd ISA Forum: Who are “we”? What is “better future”? How does our socially structured value orientations on conservation, reform or radical transformation of class division of labor influence all phases of our research and practice of participation, organizational democracy and self-management, bringing about realization of self-fulfilling prophecies?Keywords: overcoming class division of labor, participation, self-management and sociologists' self-reflection.
Session Selection: The Role of Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management in the Futures We Want


(further elaboration and application of mentioned concepts is contained as well in presentation Questions on the Work and the Sociology of Work from the Global South Perspective - the Experience of Former “Second World” )
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