"Deepening democracy?" Democratic practices and values in co-operatives operating within a Solidarity Economy framework: a case study of the Tswelelane bakery in Gauteng
Date
2016-03-07
Authors
Bentes, Saulo de Tarso Vale
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This research report analyses the relationship between the Solidarity Economy framework and democratic values and practices. The research involved a literature review of the principles informing the Solidarity Economy (SE) framework, the experience of the SE in Brazil compared to South Africa, and the differences compared to conventional co-operatives. The field work involved semi structured interviews and participant observation in a worker co-operative located in Ivory Park, Gauteng. The co-operative is a bakery with approximately seven years of history with struggles and changes. The observation focused on the organization of power relations within the co-operative, the social relations between members themselves, with the community and with another institutions The research found that, despite facing challenges and being a small size cooperative, the social relationships are marked by democratic decision making, a flat, horizontal form of internal organisation and harmonious, collegial social relationships with an overall emphasis on solidarity. It suggests that co-operatives organised in terms of the Solidarity Economy framework have the potential to deepen sustainable democracy.
Keywords: Solidarity Economy, Worker Co-operative, South Africa, Brazil, Qualitative method, Leadership, Social Relations, Democracy.
Description
University of the Witwatersrand
Faculty of Humanities
Department of Sociology/ Global Labour University
Keywords
Solidarity Economy, Worker Co-operative, South Africa, Brazil, Leadership, Social relations, Democracy