A legitimidade do cooperativismo fomentado pelo investimento social privado: o caso de uma cooperativa baiana

Abstract

Private Social Investment (PSI) was developed by executives and entrepreneurs in the 1990s and can be understood as the financial, human, technical or managerial resources that are applied in a strategically planned and systematic way, as public benefit. With the maturing of the companies operating in the social field, the PSI has also been characterized by its focus on professionalized management and investment into causes less assistentialists, prioritizing continuing actions whose existence is planned beyond the direct support of the company, thus, sustainable. Among the alternatives for action toward this end, there is significant proliferation of the identification of the cooperative as a promising alternative as development. However, it is clear that the methodology adopted by different actors in order to disseminate and raise awareness in society concerning the importance of this movement, has not yet achieved the success expected and consequently has not mobilized the portion of the population for whom the economic model would best serve the needs as the belief fueled by such programs. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the legitimacy of the criteria adopted by the projects supported by the Private Social Investment (PSI) for the definition and implementation of cooperatives as strategy for creating jobs and generating income in communities. Consists of a conclusive descriptive study of documentary status having as field an agricultural cooperative in Bahia, fomented from an income generation project implemented by the private sector. In order to support this research it was redeemed the theories regarding the issue of legitimacy and social representation and a historical analysis of the concepts of Social Responsibility, Private Social Investment and Cooperativism. We conclude in the study that opting for the implementation from ALFA Cooperative whilst the more suitable economic model to meet the needs of those involved, had not the definition of clear and specific criteria, built in a participatory manner or previously validated in the community and so that the communitarian adhesion was motivated due to the benefits inherent to the project and to the credibility of the technical team. However, the cooperative members recognize the initiative as an instrument of transformation of their family’s and community’s realities.