La acción local como alternativa de desarrollo

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to state the importance of local development as a possible alternative for communities, in order for them to search for and define their goals, taking into account their specific needs and potentials. This takes place in one scenario, which has two possibilities -administrative decentralization and the election of mayors by the people- making it a challenge for local authorities and redefining State functions. Thus, territory is now conformed of many interests, among these are: major businesses, that in a capitalist state could provide opportunities, also simultaneously could generate threats when considering that development is directly linked to industrial growth, its benefits and different types of negative externalities. Therefore local development is fundamentally an option of political nature. However, studies made by the Interamerican Development Bankhave given more importance to economic aspects and the results can be considered limited. Finally, the levels of complexity and the difficulties pertaining to the before mentioned, are direct results of a particular experience. Other dimensions of different proportions are shown as well, when local development is associated with participation and cooperative community webs, in which economical factors are not the most important.