Social Change of an Indigenous Community: A case study of the community-based cooperative "Millennial Women" in Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract: Mexico has a large share of indigenous people that are living in disproportionally high poverty levels. As a result, rural communities are facing deprivation of indigenous peoples in search of work in urban areas. The community-based cooperative “Millennial Women” was formed about 2-3 years ago with the intentions to maintain community resilience while promoting economic development in the rural community of El Azamal in the state of Oaxaca. By introducing the ancient production of the beverage “pulque” to the local market, the cooperative is changing previous subsistence mode of production. This thesis is analysing the organisation of the cooperative and its social effects through the social relations of the members to shed light on the literature of community-based organisation. Data was gathered through 21 semi-structured interviews of members during eight weeks and complemented with participant observation. Identity theory was used to identify how the pulque production, the cooperative and the indigenous identity relate to the interpersonal relations of the members. This study shows how the cooperative managed to integrate profit orientation with community resilience as a common goal that strengthened indigenous identity. It also contributed to internal socio-economic competition and domestic violence due to conflicting work responsibilities and changing gender roles. Despite the social conflicts, the local governance system of solidarity and reciprocity combined with indigenous identity, and economic benefits maintain the cooperative in the form of a solidarity economy.