Popular Self-Organization and Cooperativism: Towards Economic Democracy and Human Development

Abstract

We depart from a brief review of the history of cooperativism worldwide, particularly in Brazil. We show the conceptual framing of genuine cooperation and solidarity, listing the Brazilian-related existing organizations with movements of popular self-organization and solidary economy. As Brazilian examples, we highlight the cases of three types of cooperativism: recyclable waste picker cooperatives, financial, and agricultural. Although different, they can be synergic, providing ways of popular participation and economic democracy. In the general framework of this book, the three types of cooperatives can be the catalysts for economic democracy, executing three essential social functions: to provide a form of organization for the poor and unemployed and to afford the capture of public money for productive investment, environmental sustainability, and other aspects necessary for human development.