Community enterprises for solidarity, education and Buen Vivir: A case study in Mexico

Abstract

The contribution of solidarity economy organizations in supporting development has been recognized in several contexts. In particular, the role of community enterprises in promoting alternative approaches to development has been acknowledged in different settings, including indigenous settings. Following an ethnographic approach, this article analyzes the case of a rural community characterized by a strong indigenous component in the Mexican state of Querétaro. The study focuses on a community enterprise and other related solidarity economy projects in the area. More specifically, the aim of the study is to analyze the role of these organizational arrangements in supporting a view of development coherent with Buen Vivir, an indigenous approach to community well-being. The results highlight the potential of community enterprises in sustaining alternatives to development and the fundamental role of education in supporting the recovery of local culture, which constitutes the basis upon which solidarity economy projects can be implemented.

Keywords: community enterprises, Mexico, Buen Vivir, solidarity economy, indigenous peoples.