A PSYCHOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE ON STRATEGIES
POLITICIZATION IN ASYMMETRICAL CONFLICTS
Liliana Edith Ferrari - Claudia Iris Bazán (2014)
Summary:
1. INTRODUCTION
In this article we delve into the dynamics of politicization and political action of groups in conflict, in contrast to conventional
political structures. We focus our analysis on two significant cases: the recovered company IMPA in Buenos Aires and the
CorreCamino cooperative formed by ex-cartoneros in Villa Crespo. These examples stand out for their self-management and
cooperative initiatives, which arose in response to economic and social crises.
IMPA, located in Almagro, has been the scene of prolonged struggles for space and recognition, giving rise to educational projects
such as the Popular Baccalaureate and the Workers' University, as well as the creation of the IMPA Museum of Labor Culture. On
the other hand, CorreCamino is dedicated to the recycling of solid waste, filling a void left by municipal policies.
Our methodological approach addresses the ethical and epistemological complexities of studying conflicting movements, seeking
to understand and amplify the subjective discourses of these groups. We are inspired to understand how these initiatives challenge
and complement established public policies, exploring new forms of direct and alternative political participation.
This paper aims to describe these cases as catalysts to reflect on the diverse ways of doing politics from a social psychology
perspective, highlighting the agencyality and resistance of these groups in the face of dominant structures.
2. METHOD
The design of our research focuses on an intentionally selected multiple case study, which reveal asymmetrical social relations
marked by economic, cultural, and political inequalities. We use a qualitative approach with techniques such as participatory
interviews and ethnographic observations in the framework of Participatory Action Research (PAR), complemented by document
analysis. Our analysis encompasses both content and discourse, seeking not only to study but also to participate and engage in a
reflexive-action-reflexive praxis, oriented towards social transformation.
Our objective is to highlight the innovative practices of movements that resist disadvantaged social conditions, analyzing aspects
such as political action, representativeness and the emancipatory potential of the cases studied in their political and economic
contexts.
3. ACTIVE MINORITIES AND THEIR FORM OF POLITICAL ACTION
In this section we explore the concepts and theories developed by Moscovici and his research team on the social dynamics of
stability-transformation-innovation, focusing on their conception of social functioning and the theory of active minorities.
Moscovici analyzes how social norms interact with consensus and conflict, proposing a vision of political action where minorities
play a crucial role. This approach not only characterizes the complex democratic societies of its time, but also addresses the
processes of recognition and ignorance of differences.
To reflect on contemporary political action from social psychology, we adopt Moscovici's development in terms of change and
social stability. We highlight his dualistic model that combines Functionalism and the Genetic Model, complementary in some
respects and exclusive in others, to understand how active minorities drive transformation through internal consistency and their
ability to challenge established norms.
Moscovici's model also examines the relationship between consensus and conflict, arguing that both majorities and minorities
must negotiate concessions to reach agreements and reduce conflicts. However, counternomic minorities, who radically challenge
social norms, may be excluded from this political process, unlike active minorities who seek to expand citizenship and rights for
marginalized groups.
Historically, the cases we study arose from structural and economic crises, such as the IMPA Cooperative, affected by the decline
of the labor market and factory closures, and the El CorreCamino Cooperative, formed by socially excluded people who seek to
integrate through recycling. These groups face common challenges of exclusion and vulnerability, but they also demonstrate
resilience by rebuilding work and community spaces that transcend their disadvantaged conditions.
1
Made by MatyBuda
, 3.1. WHAT IS THE RULE TO BE EXTENDED IN EACH CASE?
Over the past 15 years, IMPA has faced the fundamental challenge related to private property and its connection to the right to
work. Their struggle for the fate and use of the property has come into conflict with the interests of various governments of the
City of Buenos Aires and the expectations of the workers. On the other hand, El CorreCamino faces the challenge of operating as
an autonomous cooperative in waste recycling, in contrast to the intermediary role assigned by the government to cartoneros in
non-contracted waste collection.
Both processes have generated criticism of successive governments of the City, but they have also strengthened the dialogue with
the local community and multiple social instances. IMPA has used strategies that challenge the current legality on corporate
bankruptcies and has emphasized its workers' identity to seek consensus. In addition, it has developed significant educational and
cultural projects such as the popular baccalaureate, the Workers' University and the IMPA Museum of the Culture of Work.
As for El CorreCamino, its members, led by its president, have transformed their identity from cartoneros to "environmental
promoters," seeking recognition to establish recycling centers that do not depend on subsidies or welfare jobs. They have
established alliances with the local community and other neighborhood institutions to promote recycling practices and
environmental awareness through various means such as radios, talks in schools and university seminars.
Both cases share an opposition to traditional social assistance policies, albeit with different approaches: IMPA emphasizes
integration through universalist social security, while El CorreCamino leans toward collective and deregulatory self-management.
3.2. TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE CONSENSUS RELUCTANT TO SUCH A TRANSFORMATION?
In the context of reluctant consensus, it is crucial to analyze historically how each of these groups has experienced society before
the crisis and expulsion of the 1990s. IMPA reflects the typical vicissitudes of the Argentine working class, challenging assisted
unemployment by redefining its working tradition. Their struggle is deeply personal and linked to the loss of dignity, seeking to be
recognized as a legitimate and unique option in the system.
On the other hand, El CorreCamino seeks to regulate identities and practices in a collective enterprise, emphasizing their inclusion
and acceptance for the social function they perform. They do not seek the prior consensus that defines them as marginal and
dangerous, but rather distance themselves from their past histories to focus on their current service to the community. This process
of building coherence is manifested in its motto of "recycling ourselves first", highlighting its transformation and commitment to a
new identity.
4. POLITICAL ACTION FROM THE THEORY OF REPRESENTATION
In the last decades of the last century, there was a growing recognition of the decline of representative systems, which opened the
way to new political and linguistic conceptions in the postmodern framework. This approach questions traditional ideas of politics
and emphasizes the discursive construction of reality and social identities. This transformation has influenced theories such as that
of Laclau and Mouffe (1987), which explore the politicization of social actions and the creation of subjects through dynamic political
relations.
The theory of representation, rooted in the modern conception of politics, has been fundamental to understanding how discourses
and practices construct and maintain social orders. However, postmodern thought has challenged this idea by questioning the
existence of an objective reality outside of discourse, promoting the idea that the social is an effect of political and discursive
practices.
IMPA has exemplified politicization in diverse ways through its actions, highlighting the creation of a museum as a way of narrating
its workers' history from its own perspective, thus challenging external interpretations. In addition, they have promoted legislation
that protects the expropriation of recovered companies, while rejecting private property in favor of a community and educational
use of the space. In contrast, El CorreCamino seeks to integrate into the community through established legality, relying on laws
such as Zero Waste to legitimize its recycling practices.
Both cooperatives represent different political strategies to assert their identities and practices in a changing context, thus
reflecting the challenges and opportunities of political action in contemporary society.
2
Made by MatyBuda
POLITICIZATION IN ASYMMETRICAL CONFLICTS
Liliana Edith Ferrari - Claudia Iris Bazán (2014)
Summary:
1. INTRODUCTION
In this article we delve into the dynamics of politicization and political action of groups in conflict, in contrast to conventional
political structures. We focus our analysis on two significant cases: the recovered company IMPA in Buenos Aires and the
CorreCamino cooperative formed by ex-cartoneros in Villa Crespo. These examples stand out for their self-management and
cooperative initiatives, which arose in response to economic and social crises.
IMPA, located in Almagro, has been the scene of prolonged struggles for space and recognition, giving rise to educational projects
such as the Popular Baccalaureate and the Workers' University, as well as the creation of the IMPA Museum of Labor Culture. On
the other hand, CorreCamino is dedicated to the recycling of solid waste, filling a void left by municipal policies.
Our methodological approach addresses the ethical and epistemological complexities of studying conflicting movements, seeking
to understand and amplify the subjective discourses of these groups. We are inspired to understand how these initiatives challenge
and complement established public policies, exploring new forms of direct and alternative political participation.
This paper aims to describe these cases as catalysts to reflect on the diverse ways of doing politics from a social psychology
perspective, highlighting the agencyality and resistance of these groups in the face of dominant structures.
2. METHOD
The design of our research focuses on an intentionally selected multiple case study, which reveal asymmetrical social relations
marked by economic, cultural, and political inequalities. We use a qualitative approach with techniques such as participatory
interviews and ethnographic observations in the framework of Participatory Action Research (PAR), complemented by document
analysis. Our analysis encompasses both content and discourse, seeking not only to study but also to participate and engage in a
reflexive-action-reflexive praxis, oriented towards social transformation.
Our objective is to highlight the innovative practices of movements that resist disadvantaged social conditions, analyzing aspects
such as political action, representativeness and the emancipatory potential of the cases studied in their political and economic
contexts.
3. ACTIVE MINORITIES AND THEIR FORM OF POLITICAL ACTION
In this section we explore the concepts and theories developed by Moscovici and his research team on the social dynamics of
stability-transformation-innovation, focusing on their conception of social functioning and the theory of active minorities.
Moscovici analyzes how social norms interact with consensus and conflict, proposing a vision of political action where minorities
play a crucial role. This approach not only characterizes the complex democratic societies of its time, but also addresses the
processes of recognition and ignorance of differences.
To reflect on contemporary political action from social psychology, we adopt Moscovici's development in terms of change and
social stability. We highlight his dualistic model that combines Functionalism and the Genetic Model, complementary in some
respects and exclusive in others, to understand how active minorities drive transformation through internal consistency and their
ability to challenge established norms.
Moscovici's model also examines the relationship between consensus and conflict, arguing that both majorities and minorities
must negotiate concessions to reach agreements and reduce conflicts. However, counternomic minorities, who radically challenge
social norms, may be excluded from this political process, unlike active minorities who seek to expand citizenship and rights for
marginalized groups.
Historically, the cases we study arose from structural and economic crises, such as the IMPA Cooperative, affected by the decline
of the labor market and factory closures, and the El CorreCamino Cooperative, formed by socially excluded people who seek to
integrate through recycling. These groups face common challenges of exclusion and vulnerability, but they also demonstrate
resilience by rebuilding work and community spaces that transcend their disadvantaged conditions.
1
Made by MatyBuda
, 3.1. WHAT IS THE RULE TO BE EXTENDED IN EACH CASE?
Over the past 15 years, IMPA has faced the fundamental challenge related to private property and its connection to the right to
work. Their struggle for the fate and use of the property has come into conflict with the interests of various governments of the
City of Buenos Aires and the expectations of the workers. On the other hand, El CorreCamino faces the challenge of operating as
an autonomous cooperative in waste recycling, in contrast to the intermediary role assigned by the government to cartoneros in
non-contracted waste collection.
Both processes have generated criticism of successive governments of the City, but they have also strengthened the dialogue with
the local community and multiple social instances. IMPA has used strategies that challenge the current legality on corporate
bankruptcies and has emphasized its workers' identity to seek consensus. In addition, it has developed significant educational and
cultural projects such as the popular baccalaureate, the Workers' University and the IMPA Museum of the Culture of Work.
As for El CorreCamino, its members, led by its president, have transformed their identity from cartoneros to "environmental
promoters," seeking recognition to establish recycling centers that do not depend on subsidies or welfare jobs. They have
established alliances with the local community and other neighborhood institutions to promote recycling practices and
environmental awareness through various means such as radios, talks in schools and university seminars.
Both cases share an opposition to traditional social assistance policies, albeit with different approaches: IMPA emphasizes
integration through universalist social security, while El CorreCamino leans toward collective and deregulatory self-management.
3.2. TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE CONSENSUS RELUCTANT TO SUCH A TRANSFORMATION?
In the context of reluctant consensus, it is crucial to analyze historically how each of these groups has experienced society before
the crisis and expulsion of the 1990s. IMPA reflects the typical vicissitudes of the Argentine working class, challenging assisted
unemployment by redefining its working tradition. Their struggle is deeply personal and linked to the loss of dignity, seeking to be
recognized as a legitimate and unique option in the system.
On the other hand, El CorreCamino seeks to regulate identities and practices in a collective enterprise, emphasizing their inclusion
and acceptance for the social function they perform. They do not seek the prior consensus that defines them as marginal and
dangerous, but rather distance themselves from their past histories to focus on their current service to the community. This process
of building coherence is manifested in its motto of "recycling ourselves first", highlighting its transformation and commitment to a
new identity.
4. POLITICAL ACTION FROM THE THEORY OF REPRESENTATION
In the last decades of the last century, there was a growing recognition of the decline of representative systems, which opened the
way to new political and linguistic conceptions in the postmodern framework. This approach questions traditional ideas of politics
and emphasizes the discursive construction of reality and social identities. This transformation has influenced theories such as that
of Laclau and Mouffe (1987), which explore the politicization of social actions and the creation of subjects through dynamic political
relations.
The theory of representation, rooted in the modern conception of politics, has been fundamental to understanding how discourses
and practices construct and maintain social orders. However, postmodern thought has challenged this idea by questioning the
existence of an objective reality outside of discourse, promoting the idea that the social is an effect of political and discursive
practices.
IMPA has exemplified politicization in diverse ways through its actions, highlighting the creation of a museum as a way of narrating
its workers' history from its own perspective, thus challenging external interpretations. In addition, they have promoted legislation
that protects the expropriation of recovered companies, while rejecting private property in favor of a community and educational
use of the space. In contrast, El CorreCamino seeks to integrate into the community through established legality, relying on laws
such as Zero Waste to legitimize its recycling practices.
Both cooperatives represent different political strategies to assert their identities and practices in a changing context, thus
reflecting the challenges and opportunities of political action in contemporary society.
2
Made by MatyBuda
