Anarchism
Autonomist Marxism
Piqueteros
Horizontal Democracy
Neighborhood assemblies began to appear in Argentina in January of 2002, following the economic crash of December of 2001.In the wake of the crisis, community networking has emerged as a possible alternative to politics. As an attempt to fulfill the role of the state in their lives in ensuring basic needs, such assemblies, predominantly made of the lower classes, have collaborated efforts out of poverty to develop grassroots solutions/alternatives within the city so that the poor, jobless, and hungry can be treated with some dignity. The neighborhood assemblies have managed without government assistance to develop soup kitchens, health service centres, housing occupations, urban organic gardens and childcare associations and youth programs. These assemblies believe strongly in the power of horizontal democracy, and are inspired by the philosophy of “Politics without Politicians.” (1)
The neighborhood assemblies
emerged in the wake of the economic crisis of December 2001 in Argentina. Their
official appearance could be seen in January of 2002, following the infamous
cacerolazos where thousands of angry and politically disappointed Argentineans
took to the streets pounding on their pots and pans while chanting, “Que
se Vayan todos!” (Get rid of them all!).
The initial collapse of the Argentinean economy should not have been a surprise
to anyone. Plagued with corrupt leadership, and the constant reminders of the
“Dirty War” that lasted from 1976- 1983, Argentineans have had to
confront many dire political hardships. The brutal dictatorship, headed by General
Jorge Videla, left many homeless, tortured, disappeared and murdered. Exact
numbers of the disappeared could never be calculated, but it is estimated that
approximately 30 000 people (2) disappeared during his ruling.
The actual crisis was an event that that left the middle-class the hardest hit
of all sectors of society. The elite were informed before hand of the pending
chaos, and to transfer their money out of Argentina, the lower and working class
did not have any money to lose, because they do not have the money to create
savings, and thus the savings of the middle class were the ones who were confiscated.
President de la Rua’s government imposed the freeze on all private bank
accounts, as an attempt to forestall the impending crash and insolvency of the
economy. Subsequently, all bank accounts became frozen and inaccessible. “This
highly unpopular, arbitrary and unconstitutional move was particularly alienating
towards the middle- class, which shortly thereafter became a major force demanding
the president’s immediate removal.” (3)
Hence, the people carry with them a feeling of frustration and are overburdened
with the continual economic stress, and an outrage towards their politicians
who have stolen directly from their pockets. Disenchantment with one’s
elected officials has therefore become an integral part of the Argentineans
manner of thinking. Disenchantment has transformed into disenfranchisement.
The national crisis was a long time in the making, and the neighborhood assemblies
are a response to the loss of credibility of the political system in general.
Consequently, the neighborhood assemblies that have appeared have taken upon
themselves to do what the politicians have never done, and that is providing
the people with the necessary social support needed for survival. What has resulted
with these assemblies is a new- found sense of empowerment and opportunity taken
by the people who participate in them. Referred to as “solidarity solutions”,
the communities are creating new models that have a mandatory communal decision
process. They are careful to maintain a horizontal structure, not believing
in hierarchies of power. Everyone who participates in the assemblies have the
right to make proposals, and leaders who do seem to emerge within them are those
who best facilitate participation.
“Breaking through the fear of activism instilled by the brutal military
dictatorship, roughly 200 groups of neighbours throughout Buenos Aires have
rejected traditional party divisions and opted for direct democracy, and a “politics
without politicians.” They are sending delegates to an inter- neighborhood
assembly, publishing newsletters, requesting donations from local merchants
for street corner community kitchens, and organizing demonstrations. In addition
to confronting the practical needs of the neighborhood, the assemblies have
become improvisational think tanks where people trade political, social and
economic ideas to create a new vision for the country.” (4)
The beauty of such groups has not been limited to Argentina, similar groups
have appeared in Venezuela during the referendum to oust President Hugo Chavez,
as well as in Brazil. Activist from Brazil and Argentina, known as the Autonomista
Caravan, have travelled throughout North and South America as a means to expand
and promote knowledge on grassroots social movements and their importance to
achieving and maintaining direct democracy.
The neighborhood assemblies have been faced with opposition from government,
especially during the period when President Duhalde was in power, however the
opposition has not stopped their proliferation in numbers, notwithstanding their
determination to achieve their goals. As is stated by one of the participants
of the assemblies: “Security used to be in the bank, and insecurity was
in the streets. Now insecurity is in the bank. The robber who used to be outside
the bank is now in it. And security is in the streets, with our neighbours.
– Pablo” (5).
(1) Lisa Garrigues. (2002) Starting Over: Argentines are Reinventing their Economy from the Ruins of Corporate Capitalism [Internet] YES Magazine Available from: http://argentinanow.tripod.com.ar/star.html
(2) Jerry W. Knudson, “Veil of Silence: The Argentine Press and the Dirty
War, 1976- 1983,” Latin American Perspectives 24, 6 (November 1997), 93.
(3) Martin Hunter. (2002) Argentina Now: A democratic Revolution Argentina’s future Who Shall Prevail? [Internet] Latin American Watch Available from: http://argentinanow.tripod.com.ar/1.html
(4) Lisa Garrigues. (2002) Starting Over: Argentines are Reinventing their Economy from the Ruins of Corporate Capitalism [Internet] YES Magazine Available from: http://argentinanow.tripod.com.ar/star.html