The Cooperative Movement in Nicaragua: Empowerment and Accompaniment of Severely Disadvantaged Peasants

This article is based on over seven months of participant observation in an agricultural cooperative in Nicaragua in 1989, a literature review and interviews in other coops. The article presents an overview of the broader grassroots movement of Nicaraguan cooperative formation (over 3300 agricultural coops were formed in the 1980s). This movement was affected by the coop participants, as they struggled for control, and in turn affected the national social and economic situation. The coops and the broader national coop movement are shown to be empowering of the participants. However, while some factors enhanced the possibility of empowerment, other complex interrelated factors impeded its development. Autocratic leadership was prevalent, intermingled with apprehension about leadership and fears of failure. Outside service providers, although seemingly helpful, also impeded empowerment through subtle condescension and distance. The most effective mutual exchange occurred when outsiders integrated as insiders. Lessons are drawn for service to the grassroots coop movement through “accompaniment” or processes of participant action research.