Ce mémoire propose une hypothèse alternative pour expliquer les facteurs à l’origine du boom du soja brésilien. En utilisant une approche combinant la théorie de l’organisation et l’économie politique institutionnelle, ce mémoire propose de comparer les modèles d’organisation de la chaîne de valeur soja des États du Mato Grosso et du Paraná. Dans un premier temps, cette recherche est guidée par un souci de documenter les rouages propres à chaque mode d’organisation et de catégoriser ces derniers comme des systèmes à part entière et cohérents. Ainsi, le mode de coordination du Mato Grosso (intégration de la chaîne de valeur) peut être qualifié de modèle hybride se rapprochant davantage du pôle hiérarchie tandis que le mode d’organisation du Paraná (coopérative agroindustrielle) peut être qualifié de mode hybride gravitant davantage vers le pôle marché. La nature des risques est identifiée comme principal déterminant du degré de centralisation de la gouvernance au sein de ces modèles. L’argument soutient que chaque mode de coordination est performant car il est adapté aux conditions locales de production et permet de mitiger les risques propres à chaque région de façon à encourager les échanges économiques. Dans un deuxième temps, cette recherche serait incomplète sans une analyse des facteurs politiques et historiques ayant influencé la trajectoire de développement de chaque région. Ainsi, chaque étude de cas présente un récit détaillé de l’évolution des politiques agraires et des institutions depuis les années 1960, soit le moment où la culture commerciale du soja a commencé à gagner en importance au Brésil. Analyser le changement institutionnel depuis 1960 est primordial pour comprendre comment se sont consolidées les règles du jeu qui sous-tendent aujourd’hui chaque mode de coordination. / This dissertation proposes an alternative argument for explaining the Brazilian soybean boom. Drawing on the theory of organization and on institutional political economy, this research compares the organization of the value chain in the states of Mato Grosso and Paraná. Firstly, this research attempts to detail the internal workings of each mode of organization in order to conceptualize the latter as integral and coherent systems. As a result, Mato Grosso’s coordination mode (supply-chain integration) may be described as a hybrid organizational mode bearing resemblances with hierarchical organization whereas Paraná’s hybrid mode (agro industrial cooperative) tilts towards market organization. We identify the nature of risks as the primary determinant of the degree of governance centralization within each model. As a result, it is argued that each model is coherent and efficient because it serves the purpose of mitigating risks in a way that is responsive and adapted to local production imperatives. Such consideration is of upmost importance given that risk mitigation may encourage transactions and hence, induce economic growth. Secondly, such a research endeavour would be incomplete without a detailed analysis of the political and historical factors that influenced the development trajectory of each region. In order to take those variables into account, the case studies trace the history of the agrarian policies and institutions that shaped the economic landscape of each region starting from the 1960s, this is, when the production of soybeans started gaining importance in Brazil. Analyzing institutional change, it is argued, is critical for understanding the rules of the game that underpin the actual modes of coordination in each region.

O prejuízo causado por chuvas de granizo é um dos principais problemas enfrentados pelos produtores de maçã no Brasil e em outros países. O trabalho apresenta, a partir de uma revisão abrangente da literatura e pesquisas de campo realizadas em região produtora do Estado de Santa Catarina, uma caracterização do problema e das alternativas existentes para a definição de estratégias ótimas para o gerenciamento do risco existente. As alternativas consideradas incluíram: seguro comercial, seguro mútuo, diversificação espacial, telas anti- granizo, foguetes anti- granizo e geradores de solo. O trabalho utiliza um modelo conceitual, especificado num diagrama de decisão e dados levantados na pesquisa, para evidenciar a relação qualitativa e quantitativa existente entre as diferentes alternativas consideradas e as variáveis mais relevantes para caracterização do problema. O modelo definido no diagrama de decisão foi implementado em software, em planilha eletrônica, de forma a facilitar o processo de seleção das melhores alternativas para gestão do risco de granizo, a partir da situação existente com relação a preços, custos e outras informações relevantes. Esse software foi utilizado em estudo de caso realizado junto a uma cooperativa de produtores de maçã de São Joaquim, SC, para a análise quantitativa das alternativas levantadas. O trabalho visa fornecer subsídios técnicos que auxiliem os agricultores no processo de tomada de decisão quanto à estratégia mais adequada para a administração do risco de chuvas de granizo em seus pomares, auxiliem as empresas de seguro na elaboração de novos contratos em suas carteiras agrícolas e, também, o governo no desenvolvimento de novas políticas voltadas ao setor agropecuário. / The damage caused by hailstorms is one of the most important problems faced by the apple producers, in Brazil, and in other countries. This work presents, from a literature review and local surveys within the apple producing region in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, a characterization of the hail risk problem and an evaluation of existing alternatives for risk management. The alternatives considered in the risk management process included: commercial insurance, mutual insurance, spatial diversification, antihail nets, hail rockets and ground burners. Besides, the research presents a conceptual model that uses decision diagrams to describe the qualitative relationship among the different alternatives for administration of the hail risk and the most important variables for the problem. The decision diagram guided the development of a software tool designed to help the selection of the best combination of alternatives for hail risk management. This software tool, implemented in a spreadsheet, was used in a case study involving an association of apple producers in São Joaquim, SC. The intention of this work is to aid apple producers in the selection of the most appropriate strategy for the administration of the risk of hailstorms in their orchards, aid the insurance companies in the design of new contracts in your agricultural portfolio and, also, aid the government in the development of new agricultural policies.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:44:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Reynaldo Schirmer Pecanha.pdf: 2933588 bytes, checksum: bc2897331b9c0249d58bc515d2a06db9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This study aimed to verify if the recycling cooperatives implant the collectors of recyclable material, socioeconomically or not. The research was based on bibliographical and documentary review on the subject and also the comparative analysis of multi-case study in three recycling cooperatives located in São Paulo. We used to collect data from semi-structured interviews with cooperative members of these organizations and direct non-participant observation. The chosen approach was the analysis of qualitative data with the support of Atlas.ti software. The results will offer suggestions with proposals to managers, companies and policy makers so that the socio-economic inclusion is more effective. The main results of the study showed that the inclusion of collectors of recyclable material is processed with greater emphasis by the economic dimension in which the generation of employment and income become important factors to promote citizenship of these workers. It was observed in the cooperatives eager, but little effectiveness in implementing programs aimed at the social dimension as inclusion factor, in which the categories 'education' and 'health' could have priority in their management. It's worth mentioning that the analyzed recycling cooperatives comply with their proposals to provide access to work and therefore income. However, gaps in the social dimension could be minimized by the most action of public authorities and companies, in partnership with these collective social enterprises, in drafting of strategic plans that seek to actions aimed at increasing access to health and education programs and professional training of collectors / Este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar se as cooperativas de reciclagem inserem socioeconomicamente ou não os catadores de material reciclável. A pesquisa baseou-se na revisão bibliográfica e documental sobre o tema e também na análise comparativa de estudo multicasos em três cooperativas de reciclagem localizadas na capital paulista. Utilizou-se a coleta de dados a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas com os cooperados dessas organizações e da observação direta não participante. O enfoque escolhido foi a análise de dados qualitativos com o apoio do software Atlas.ti. Os resultados permitirão oferecer sugestões com propostas aos gestores, empresas e formuladores de políticas públicas a fim de que a inclusão socioeconômica seja mais efetiva. Os principais resultados da pesquisa apontaram que a inclusão dos catadores e catadoras de material reciclável se processa com maior ênfase pela dimensão econômica, na qual a geração de trabalho e renda tornam-se fatores preponderantes para promover a cidadania desses trabalhadores. Observou-se por parte das cooperativas muita vontade, mas pouca efetividade na implementação de programas que visem à dimensão social como fator de inclusão, na qual as categorias educação e saúde poderiam ter prioridade em suas gestões. Vale destacar que as cooperativas de reciclagem analisadas cumprem com suas propostas de prover acesso a trabalho e, consequentemente, renda. No entanto, as lacunas encontradas na dimensão social poderiam ser minimizadas pela maior ação do poder público e das empresas, em parcerias com esses empreendimentos sociais coletivos, na elaboração de planos estratégicos que busquem ações direcionadas para maior acesso à saúde e aos programas de educação e capacitação profissional dos catadores de material reciclável

Au sein des groupements de l’économie sociale, le rapport entre la personne morale et ses membres est un rapport particulier et unique. Cette spécificité tire sa force de l’esprit altruiste et éthique du secteur solidaire. Elle tire sa force aussi des principes humains et financiers qui règnent au sein de ce type de groupement. Par conséquent, on a pu affirmer que le principe phare qui influe le plus sur ce rapport reste celui de double qualité. Ce dernier permet d’associer le membre aux affaires sociales du groupement et de le faire, en plus, participer activement tout au long de son adhésion. Cependant, cette particularité du rapport est menacée par plusieurs facteurs, les uns sont d’ordre interne et liés aux règles de fonctionnement et aux problèmes récurrents du financement des dits groupements et les autres sont externes et plus attachés au libéralisme et la mondialisation des échanges et plus particulièrement la politique européenne axée sur lalibre concurrence au marché face à des sociétés de type capitaliste qui ne cessent d’attaquer les groupements de l’économie sociale pour les banaliser et les faire disparaitre / Within companies of social economy, the relationship between the corporation and its members is a special and unique one. This specificity derives its strength from the altruistic and ethical mind of the solidarity sector. It also draws its strength from human and financial principles that prevail in this kind of companies. Therefore, we could confirm that the guidingprinciple that most affects this relationship is that of a dual quality. This latter allows the association of the member to the social affairs of the company making it, in addition to that, actively participating throughout the process. However, this particular relationship is threatened by several factors. Some are internal and related to operating rules as well as the persistent problems in the financing of the abovementioned companies. The other factors are external and more linked to liberalism and to the globalization of trade and particularly the European policy based on free competition in the market versus capitalist societies that keep on attacking the companies of social economy for the sake of trivializing and getting rid of them

Submitted by Kenia Bernini (kenia.bernini@ufpel.edu.br) on 2017-06-08T20:30:40Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Admilson_Robalo_ Brito_Xavier_Pinto_Dissertação.pdf: 9721285 bytes, checksum: 2ddd807be9fd74fa9c827a6bab1b0472 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-06-09T11:39:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Admilson_Robalo_ Brito_Xavier_Pinto_Dissertação.pdf: 9721285 bytes, checksum: 2ddd807be9fd74fa9c827a6bab1b0472 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-06-09T11:43:32Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Admilson_Robalo_ Brito_Xavier_Pinto_Dissertação.pdf: 9721285 bytes, checksum: 2ddd807be9fd74fa9c827a6bab1b0472 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-09T11:43:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Admilson_Robalo_ Brito_Xavier_Pinto_Dissertação.pdf: 9721285 bytes, checksum: 2ddd807be9fd74fa9c827a6bab1b0472 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-07 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / A presente dissertação de mestrado apresenta um estudo histórico e antropológico sobre cooperativismo e as estratégias de luta pelo bem viver na comunidade pesqueira de Ribeira da Barca, localizada na Ilha de Santiago, arquipélago de Cabo Verde. O objetivo geral do trabalho é compreender a organização desta comunidade com vistas a entender qual seria o bem viver a que ela aspira. Para este propósito, o estudo traz para a discussão o conceito de colonialidade do poder, dentre outros, que transcende as particularidades do colonialismo histórico português e que não desaparece com a descolonização oficial. Este conceito é recorrente em estudos sobre comunidades indígenas do continente americano e constitui-se, pois, em uma tentativa de explicar a modernidade como um processo intrinsecamente vinculado à experiência colonial. Atualmente, Cabo Verde tem sido refém do sistema-mundo e da dependência econômica do exterior, o que obriga o Estado a assinar protocolos e parcerias que visam atingir o desenvolvimento do país. Tais parcerias nem sempre satisfazem a necessidade da maioria da população nacional, como verificado na comunidade pesqueira de Ribeira da Barca, localizada na Ilha de Santiago, sobretudo por conta de um acordo sobre o domínio de pesca, assinado entre Cabo Verde e a União Europeia. Neste caso, em particular, verificou-se que a população local enfrenta muitas dificuldades de natureza socioeconômica e procura sobreviver por meio da ajuda mútua. Desse modo, surge uma forma de sociabilidade marcada pela solidariedade e busca pelo bem viver, observado na expressão “vivi dreto”, típica do crioulo cabo-verdiano, a qual tem a ver com uma alternativa à ideia de desenvolvimento convencional. Para tanto, são necessárias respostas políticas que possibilitem a cultura do estar em harmonia em detrimento da civilização do viver melhor. Trata-se de construir uma sociedade solidária e sustentável, visto que o bem viver sinaliza uma ética de suficiência para toda a comunidade e não somente para o indivíduo / Es dissertason di mestrado é um estudo stórico e antropológico sobre cooperativismu e stratégia de luta pá vivi dreto, na komunidade peskeira de Rubera da Barka, ki ta fica na Ilha de Santiago, arkipélagu de Kabu Verde. É tem como objetivo geral compreendi organizason di komunidade, ku ideia na entendi kuse ki é vivi dreto pa guentis de komunidade. Na kel studo li fazedu um discuson di conceito de colonialidade do poder, ki ta transcendi particularidadi di colonialismo storico portugês e que ki ka ta desapareci ku descolonizason oficial. Es conceito é recorrente em studos sobre komunidades indígenas na kontinente mercano e é ta constitui, um tentativa de esplica modernidadi como um processo ki sta ligado à experiência colonial. Atualmenti, Kabu Verde tem stado refém di sistema-mundo keli é pamode é ta dependi ekonômicamente di esterior, o ki ta obriga Estado a assina protocolus e parcerias ki ta visa atingi desenvolvimento di país. Kes parcerias nem sempri ta satisfaze necessidadi di maioria di populason nacional. Sima verificadu na komunidade pesqera de Rubera da Barka, localizado na Ilha de Santiago, sobretudo pamodi um acordo di pesca, assinado entre Kabo Verde ku União Europeia. Nes caso, em particular, populason local sa enfrenta tcheu dificuldades sócio-econômico e es ta procura sobrevivi graça a djunta-mo. Assi surgi um forma de sociabilidadi marcadu pá solidariedadi, na busca di vivi dreto. Es forma di bida é um alternativa à ideia de desenvolvimentu convencional. Ma pes pode, vivi dreto é necessário tem respostas políticas ki ta possibilitas vivi assi. Es pratica ta trata di construi um sociedade solidário e sustentável, pamode vivi dreto ta busca um ética de suficiência pá todo Komunidade e non somenti pá un alguem / his dissertation presents a historical and anthropological study about the cooperativism and the strategies of struggle for the live well in the fishing community of Ribeira da Barca, in Santiago island, archipelago of Cape Verde. The general objective of the work is to comprehend the organization of this community in order to understand which live well they wish for. For this reason, this study brings to discussion the concept of coloniality of the power, among others, that transcends the particularities of the Portuguese historical colonialism and that does not disappear with the official decolonization. This concept is recurrent in studies about indigenous communities of the American continent and it consists of an attempt to explain the modernity as a process intrinsically connected to the colonial experience. At present, Cape Verde has been hostage of the world-system and the economic dependence from abroad, which forces the state to sign protocols and partnerships that aim to achieve the development of the country. Such partnerships do not always satisfy the needs of the majority of the national population, as verified in the fishing community of Ribeira da Barca, in Santiago island, specially because of the agreement on the fishing domain, signed between Cape Verde and the European Union. In this case, in particular, it was verified that the local population deals with many socio-economic difficulties and tries to survive through mutual help. In consequence, a form of sociability emerges marked by the solidarity and the search for living well, observed in the expression “vivi dreto”, typical from the Cape Verdean creole, which is related to the alternative of the idea of conventional development. Therefore, political answers are necessary to enable the culture of being in harmony, preferring this over the civilization of better living. It talks about building a solidary and sustainable society, considering that the live well indicates an ethic of sufficiency for the whole community not only for the individua

Este trabalho analisa as perspectivas e limites das políticas públicas voltadas à coleta seletiva no que toca as cooperativas de catadores e sua eficácia socioeconômica, apontando oportunidades, dificuldades e possibilidades de mudanças. Analisamos especificamente a Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS), Lei n. 12.305/2010. Para tal, primeiramente, apresentamos o esquema teórico utilizado para interpretar e discutir as políticas públicas e o policy-making process a partir de trabalhos de autores da área da Ciência Política. Posteriormente procede-se à análise dos contextos social, econômico, político e histórico em que foram criadas as principais políticas públicas ambientais no período 1930-2010, procurando demonstrar a passagem na construção de políticas públicas ambientais, identificando aspectos básicos que evoluíram em cada época pesquisada. Em seguida, realizamos uma análise sobre a PNRS e de políticas de coleta seletiva, particularmente no âmbito do município do Rio de Janeiro, por meio de indicadores estatísticos obtidos junto aos órgãos governamentais e de associações privadas especializadas, além de documentos normativos e programas públicos. Após, realizamos pesquisa de campo junto aos gestores de cooperativas a fim de investigar a percepção dos mesmos sobre as políticas públicas, o cenário, as positividades e negatividades da coleta seletiva, e a interpretamos a partir da Análise do Conteúdo. Enfim, apresentamos uma interpretação, que aponta a PNRS como uma política pública que traz instrumentos que não são percebidos em sua totalidade pelos atores envolvidos, o que implica na sua não pactuação e, por consequência, na não utilização plena das vantagens induzidas pela política. A pesquisa de campo junto aos gestores indica que os mesmos têm pouco conhecimento sobre o conteúdo da PNRS, mas sabem todo o processo técnico da coleta seletiva e da gestão dos resíduos. O cenário envolto às cooperativas compreende aspectos que dificultam o trabalho das cooperativas, a exemplo: o baixo valor de venda dos materiais; a falta de logística adequada; a insuficiência de materiais básicos e infraestrutura à produção; a concorrência com atravessadores; a dificuldade em manter e em aumentar o número de cooperados. Entretanto, há aspectos positivos como: a cultura da partilha e solidariedade; a preocupação com os cooperados; a melhora efetiva da renda; o aumento do volume de materiais para a produção, mas principalmente a visibilidade das cooperativas de catadores no sistema político da gestão pública. O estudo traz sugestões para novas pesquisas, como categorias analíticas novas como processo de pactuação de políticas públicas e desamparo estrutural, assim como indaga os impactos da tecnologia, a burocracia e a participação pública e política das cooperativas no sistema político e no processo decisório. Por fim, situamos que, ainda que saibam a tecnicidade do processo, as cooperativas apresentam conjuntura de desamparo estrutural, que compreende aspectos socioeconômicos e político-institucionais, além de que estão em um ambiente que mais dificulta do que facilita o desenvolvimento de seu trabalho. A PNRS, por efeito, não é pactuada plenamente por todos os atores e, logo, perde a capacidade de inclusão social, por ter o distanciamento entre os gabinetes dos formuladores da política e os galpões da cooperativa. / This work analyzes the prospects and limits of public policies for selective collection regarding the recycling cooperatives and their effectiveness socioeconomic, pointing opportunities, difficulties and possibilities of change. We focus on the Solid Waste National Policy (PNRS, in Portuguese), Law no. 12.305/2010. To achieve this, first, we present the theoretical framework used to interpret and discuss public policy and the policy-making process from the works of authors of Political Science. Later, we proceed to the analysis of the social, economic, political and historical context in the period 1930-2010, in which produce the main environmental public policies, aiming to demonstrate the passage in building public environmental policies, identifying basic aspects that evolved each season surveyed. Then, we performed an analysis on the PNRS and selective collection policies, particularly in the city of Rio de Janeiro, through statistical indicators obtained from government agencies and private associations specialized, in addition to the normative documents and public programs. After, we conducted field research with the managers of cooperatives in order to investigate their perceptions about public policies, the setting, the positivity and negativity of selective collection, and interpret from the Content Analysis. Finally, we present an interpretation that points to PNRS as a public policy that brings instruments that the actors involved do not perceived in its entirety, which implies its non-pact and therefore not full use of the advantages induced by policy. The field research with the managers indicates that they have little knowledge about the contents of PNRS but know all the technical process of selective collection and waste management. The scenario in which cooperatives are, comprehends aspects that hinder the work of cooperatives, such as the low value of sales material; the lack of adequate logistics; insufficient infrastructure and basic materials production; competition with intermediaries; difficulties in maintaining and to increase the number of members in the cooperative. However, there are positive aspects: the culture of sharing and solidarity; concern for the cooperative; the effective increase in income; the increase in the volume of materials for production; but mainly the visibility of recycling cooperatives in the political system of public management. The study provides suggestions for further research, such as new analytical categories as "process of agreement of public policies" and "structural helplessness" as well as investigates the impact of technology, bureaucracy and public and political participation of cooperatives in the political system and in the decision-making process. Finally, we situate it, even though they know the technicality of the process, the cooperatives present situation of structural helplessness comprising socioeconomic and political-institutional, and who are in a more difficult environment that facilitates the development of their work. The PNRS, by effect do not have fully agreement by the stakeholders and thus lose the ability to social inclusion, by having the distance between the offices of policymakers and sheds of the cooperatives.

<p>Osnovni zadatak ove doktorske disertacije jeste da sagleda dru&scaron;tveno&ndash;ekonomski, prosvetni, kulturni i demografski razvoj Užičkog okruga od 1947. god 1963. godine. U disertaciji je prikazan razvoj najznačajnijih privrednih organiazcija Užičkog orkuga (kasnije Sreza Titovo Užice) koje su podstakle promene u svim sverama dru&scaron;tvenog života ovog kraja. Industrijalizacije je inicirala preseljenje stanovnižtva sa sela u industrijske centre. Da bi se obezbedio život novih stanovnika gradova gradili su se infrastrukturni objekti, stanovi, &scaron;kole, vrtide, domovi zdravlja, bolnice, ustanove za sovijalno staranje i kulturne ustavnove. I pored svih dru&scaron;tveno &ndash; političkih protivurečnosti koje su obeležile ovo doba, može se konstatovati da je užički kraj ostvario vidan ekonomski i kulturni razvoj.</p> / <p>The main task of this doctoral dissertation is to<br />examine the socio-economic, educational, cultural<br />and demographic development of the District of<br />Uzice from 1947 to 1963. The dissertation presents<br />the development of the most important business<br />organizations of District of Uzice ( later the County<br />of Titovo Uzice) that have encouraged changes in all<br />spheres of social life in this region. Industrialization<br />has initiated migration of population from rural to<br />industrial centers. In order to maintain a certain<br />quality of life for the new city inhabitants the new<br />infrastructure objects, housing, schools,<br />kindergartens, healthcare centres and hospitals,<br />social welfare and cultural institutions were built.<br />Despite all the socio - political controversies that<br />have marked this period, it can be concluded that<br />the region of Uzice made a significant economic and<br />cultural development in that period.</p>

With the advent of globalisation driving the People.s Republic of China to embrace its future, the local government has shown great enthusiasm promulgating one of the oldest industries. Foreign higher educational providers that operate in China through the mode of joint venture cooperatives between a Chinese and foreign institution of higher learning are becoming increasingly .knowledgeable-hungry. public or private universities and colleges. Such operations commonly known as Sino-foreign educational cooperatives (SFEC), are hotly spawned on the mainland, enrolling Chinese students through the division of responsibilities, roles and resources. The Chinese party is mostly responsible for the hardware support, supplying facilities and logistics as the part of the bargain, whereas the foreign party provides the intellectual software of academic programs. The locus of this qualitative study aims to present and investigate a distinct phenomenon of learning in SFEC through the theories of sociocultural perspective encumbered in a transitional context; Sino-foreign (SF) graduates to other workplace communities. Without common interests of social interaction, co-participation, and transformation, SFEC are often discredited due to various factors. The learning aims will feature participative and transformative themes that feature qualitative and interpretive methods. Thus, this research involves interviewing four relevant participants from the likes of two Chinese nationals and two non-Chinese, and how they view learning in SFEC applied to a transitional context, the workplace. My furtherance of analysis will generally stress learning, co-participation and transformative learning in activities that circumvents discriminatory elements of artifacts, identity profiling, relationships, commitment and workplace employment for the necessary transition. In the initial research phase, it did seem that putting learning into community practice in China was essential. In the closing stages, thoughts will flow to the legitimisation of participative and transformative learning, which forms the backdrop of this original theme of research gathered through previous works of similar purview. Prawatt and Floden (1994) remark that knowledge, and the belief that knowledge is the result of social interaction and language usage, and thus is a shared, rather than an individual, experience. Presumably, my chosen theories frame the interactive and shared communal nature of the Chinese society and learning systems. / na

Using a Marxist perspective, this thesis examines Venezuela’s Socialist Production Units (SPU). SPUs have emerged as a clear alternative to the neoliberal model that characterized Venezuela and most of Latin America for the past 30 years. However, SPUs exist within capitalism and their political economy remains contradictory, a reality that manifests in the concrete experiences of their workers. Although facing contradictory experiences, SPU workers are acquiring important learning that challenges dominant market relations and builds the preconditions for a new, more just society. This learning is being acquired informally, in particular, through workers’ democratic participation in their SPU. For these reasons, SPUs should be considered important sites where revolutionary praxis is taking place. Therefore, I conclude, SPUs are making a significant contribution to the building of ‘socialism in the 21st century’, but further struggles, in particular, against the state bureaucracy and large local landowners are needed to advance their goals.

Using a Marxist perspective, this thesis examines Venezuela’s Socialist Production Units (SPU). SPUs have emerged as a clear alternative to the neoliberal model that characterized Venezuela and most of Latin America for the past 30 years. However, SPUs exist within capitalism and their political economy remains contradictory, a reality that manifests in the concrete experiences of their workers. Although facing contradictory experiences, SPU workers are acquiring important learning that challenges dominant market relations and builds the preconditions for a new, more just society. This learning is being acquired informally, in particular, through workers’ democratic participation in their SPU. For these reasons, SPUs should be considered important sites where revolutionary praxis is taking place. Therefore, I conclude, SPUs are making a significant contribution to the building of ‘socialism in the 21st century’, but further struggles, in particular, against the state bureaucracy and large local landowners are needed to advance their goals.