Abstract:
The purpose of this collection is to piece together a series of events in Argentina's history that resulted in the present day workers movements. Upon completion of an internship in Rosario, Argentina, an interest was sparked in learning more about the movements of unemployed workers through social autonomy. The economic crises that left hundreds of thousands unemployed were the beginnings to a revolution of horizontal‟ productivity, as hierarchical structures were eradicated. Through a chronological review of the political parties that ruled over the last century, several events are noteworthy in their impact of the current social, political, and economic organization of Argentina. The classical structure of neo-liberalism imposed during the 1980s and 1990s, had left a bitter taste in the mouths of the some 21 million impoverished individuals. With a set of economic policies imposed by monetary establishments like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, neoliberalism offered affluence for the rich and paucity for the poor. In Argentina's case, countless suffered as privatization, deregulation and globalization led to the suppression of the nation's economy and the demise of the middle class. The result of such an economic catastrophe has encouraged workers to take matters into their own hands through a social movement known as Movimiento de Trabajadores Desocupados (MTD). Once abandoned factories are now fully occupied by former employees; however, this time without a hierarchical, management structure in place. Unions have formed to support participatory and democratic autonomy. The transition from a vertical to a horizontal structure of organization serves as the current trend in reclaimed factories. It is crucial to observe whether or not these structural changes are sound enough to withstand the political powers in play, as well as determine if they are beneficial to the nation's political economy.
