Ocupar, Resistir, Producir. the Recuperated Factories of Argentina
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
OCUPAR, RESISTIR, PRODUCIR. THE RECUPERATED FACTORIES OF ARGENTINA Lorenza Gallia B.A., Simon Fraser University, 2005 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS In the Latin American Studies Program of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology 0 Lorenza Gallia 2007 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY 2007 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL Name: Lorenza Gallia Degree: Master of Arts Title of Thesis: Ocupar, Resistir, Producir. The Recuperated Factories of Argentina. Examining Committee: Chair: Dr. Geraro Otero Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Dr. Eric Hershberg Senior Supervisor Professor, Department of Political Science Director, Latin American Studies Program Simon Fraser University Dr. Rita de Grandis Supervisor Professor, French, Hispanic and Italian Studies Program The University of British Columbia Dr. Fernando De Maio External Examiner Assistant Professor Department of Sociology and Anthropology Simon Fraser University Date Defended: Declaration of Partial Copyright Licence The author, whose copyright is declared on the title page of this work, has granted to Simon Fraser University the right to lend this thesis, project or extended essay to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. The author has further granted permission to Simon Fraser University to keep or make a digital copy for use in its circulating collection (currently available to the public at the "Institutional Repository" link of the SFU Library website <www.lib.sfu.ca> at: ~http://ir.lib.sfu.ca/handle/l892/112~)and, without changing the content, to translate the thesislproject or extended essays, if technically possible, to any medium or format for the purpose of preservation of the digital work. The author has further agreed that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by either the author or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without the author's written permission. Permission for public performance, or limited permission for private scholarly use, of any multimedia materials forming part of this work, may have been granted by the author. This information may be found on the separately catalogued multimedia material and in the signed Partial Copyright Licence. While licensing SFU to permit the above uses, the author retains copyright in the thesis, project or extended essays, including the right to change the work for subsequent purposes, including editing and publishing the work in whole or in part, and licensing other parties, as the author may desire. The original Partial Copyright Licence attesting to these terms, and signed by this author, may be found in the original bound copy of this work, retained in the Simon Fraser University Archive. Simon Fraser University Library Burnaby, BC, Canada Revised: Fall 2007 STATEMENT OF ETHICS APPROVAL The author, whose name appears on the title page of this work, has obtained, for the research described in this work, either: (a)Human research ethics approval from the Simon Fraser University Office of Research Ethics, (b) Advance approval of the animal care protocol from the University Animal Care Committee of Simon Fraser University; or has conducted the research (c) as a co-investigator, in a research project approved in advance, (d) as a member of a course approved in advance for minimal risk human research, by the Office of Research Ethics. A copy of the approval letter has been filed at the Theses Office of the University Library at the time of submission of this thesis or project. The original application for approval and letter of approval are filed with the relevant offices. Inquiries may be directed to those authorities. Bennett Library Simon Fraser University Burnaby, BC, Canada Last rewsan Smmer 2007 ABSTRACT This study focuses on the recuperated factories movement (ERT) of Argentina, its dynamics, and outcomes. It investigates the ways in which the political and economic strategies of the ERT movement have affected workers' views of their social role, and their class position. Although the ERTs originate from workers' necessity to maintain their place of work and earnings, they have engendered deep transformations including modes of production, ownership of knowledge, redistribution of wealth, and patterns of social interaction. These changes are reflected in new worker identities that, despite being tied to the historical class consciousness of Argentina's working-class, bring elements of divergence with a classic Marxist interpretation of consciousness. This study reflects on the characteristics of this new socio-political identity and its association with historical practices and perspectives. It also elaborates on the economic, political, and social implications of this new consciousness. Keywords: Argentina; recuperated factories; workers' self management; class c~n~ciou~ne~~ Subject Terms: Working class - Argentina; recuperated factories movement; social protest; neoliberalism - Argentina; economic crisis - Argentina DEDICATION To Gianni, Andrea, and Chicco who have supported my endeavour with love and patience. To the Argentine workers of the recuperated factories, who believe another world is possible. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Eric Hershberg and Dr. Rita De Grandis for their support and detailed supervision. As well, I want to thank many friends who have patiently followed my quest for clarity and whose thoughts accompanied me through seemingly endless revisions. Finally, I want to acknowledge the Argentine workers, activists, and academics for sharing their experiences and knowledge. TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval .............................................................................................................. ii ... Abstract .............................................................................................................. III Dedication .......................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ............................................................................................ v Table of Contents .............................................................................................. vi ... List of Tables ................................................................................................... VIII Glossary ............................................................................................................. ix INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. I Objectives ...................................................................................................3 Theoretical Framework .....................................................................................4 Recent Debates on Class and Identity Formation ........................................7 Methodology ...................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER I:THE EMERGENCE OF THE WORKING CLASS IN ARGENTINA ...................................................................................................... II Introduction .................................................................................................... 11 1. The Formative Years ................................................................................. 14 1. 1 The Emergence of a Labor Movement (1850-1 930) ............................ 14 1.2 Labor Realignment and the Rise of Peron (1930-1943) ....................... 17 2 . Peronism ....................................................................................................19 2.1 The Rise of Juan Peron (1943-1 955) ................................................... 19 2.2 Post-Peronism (1955-1 976) .................................................................25 3 . The Dictatorship (I976-1 983) ....................................................................29 3.1 Labor Recomposition and Trade Union Resistance .............................. 29 3.2 The Return to Democracy ..................................................................... 31 4 . Neoliberalism and the Economic Collapse (1990-2001 ) ............................ 33 Conclusion ...................................................................................................35 CHAPTER 2: A POLITICAL-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF ARGENTINA'S CRISES ........................................................................................................... 37 Introduction ...............................................................................................37 1. Peronist Autocracy ...................................................................................38 2 . The Military Dictatorship............................................................................. 41 3 . The Return to Democracy .....................................................................44 3.1 Alfonsin (1983-1 989) ............................................................................44 3.2 El Menemato (1989-1 999) ..................................................................