Assembling Alternatives: Cooperativismo in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria

• In Event: 41061 - Section on Latina/o Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 7: Institutional Policies, Disaster Response, and Latinx Resilience

Abstract

The cooperative movement has grown considerabily in membership and ambition in the last few years. This paper argues that cooperativismo, while not emerging as a radical challenge to the dire necropolitical, colonial conditions in Puerto Rico, is a movement that is accomplishing important practical and affective work to pose alternatives to the harshly dispossessive neoliberal models for development now being imposed. Emphasizing self management, commitment to service, sociality and promoting material well being, cooperatives that offer credit and sfinancial , as well as organizing crucial services such as solar power, credit unions are accomplishing important groundwork to challenge the harsh conditions being imposed through austerity and neglect.

Author

• Miranda J. Martinez, The Ohio State University