Memories of the Common. Critical Analysis of the Participatory Process of a Community Initiative

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyse the evolution of the participatory process of a community initiative, the Municipal Complex SACUDE, located in the Municipal neighborhood, Casavalle basin, on the periphery of Montevideo, Uruguay. For this purpose, the (re)construction of participation memories and their critical analysis is pursued. The methodology applied is framed within the socio-praxis perspective, incorporating contributions from various critical social research streams. The research is driven by a Motor Group, consisting of neighbours and technical staffs of the initiative.

Four stages have been identified: The Island (1941-1970), Lights in the shadows (1970-1990), From the white elephant to the “Atom Ant” (1990-2010), and Community in motion (2010-2021). The forms that participation took in each stage were examined, generating valuable insights to address the future of the initiative. Personal narratives intertwined into a collective one, which recovered the traces of shared experiences, imbuing them with new meanings to enhance collective action. It is concluded that, to construct knowledge and proposals for participatory action, it is essential to participatively construct the narrative of the process.