Community economies: approaches and community experiences
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/0m86fy93Keywords:
Territoriality, Food Sovereignty, Community Fairs, Solidarity Routes, Social ActionAbstract
Introduction: The extractivism of common natural resources is part of a broader socio-political strategy that legitimizes the exploitation of nature as a means to promote the development of national and global markets. As a consequence, communities have been dispossessed and displaced—not only territorially but also economically and in terms of labor—leading to significant social impacts.
Objectives: This project aims to highlight community-based economic initiatives as viable alternative models for subsistence and social organization. These experiences emerged or were reinvented during the COVID-19 pandemic within the framework of a Social Action program at the University of Costa Rica. Many of these initiatives have persisted and strengthened local resilience and solidarity.
Methodology and Techniques: The project supporting these diverse experiences is grounded in Participatory Action Research and critical pedagogies, such as Popular Education. The findings presented are the result of this approach, which emphasizes collaborative, participatory, and dialogic processes that valorize historical memory and diverse knowledge systems.
Results: Developing alternatives to the dominant economic system enables communities to pursue collective well-being, solidarity, and cultural identity. These community economies serve as a means to foster social cohesion and economic resilience from within.
Conclusions: Community-based economies seek to redistribute resources and goods more equitably, improving local economic conditions through collective management of economic activities. Additionally, the role of Social Action is crucial in strengthening the link between the university and society, fostering social transformation and community empowerment.
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