| In the effort to alleviate poverty, multilateral organizations and international aid agencies from industrial countries have been involved over the last fifty years in the non-industrialized world, including Latin America and the Andes. However, despite good intentions the approach has usually been paternalistic, seeking even if unintentionally cultural assimilation and ignoring the strength of indigenous institutions and knowledge (including environmental knowledge). This in turn, according to a World Bank report (1998), has contributed to worsening poverty, social marginalization and environmental degradation. The link between poverty, environment and development has been highlighted by the World Commission on Environment and Development (1987). The Commission proposed the term ‘sustainable development’ as a framework to integrate and reconcile economic success and environmental protection over the long run.; Research into income generation programs among poor populations illustrates the importance of integrating cultural values into the design of entrepreneurial activities (Taub 1998, Rahman 1999, Light 1998). Recent literature in entrepreneurship calls attention to the need for more cross-cultural research (Bull 1997, Johanninson 1996, Holt 1997, Tsang 1997, Peterson 1988) and the need to look at community issues (Boyett and Finlay 1995, Cornwall 1998, Onyx and Bullen 2000, Lietka 2000). It is argued that the goal of entrepreneurial activity should not only be independent income and social mobility, but also the creation of the ability to strengthen families and rebuild communities.; The main premise of this research is that authentic development must come from the people themselves and that one of the most fundamental challenges for organizations and policy-makers is to incorporate the diversity of cultures as well as the diversity of economic and social systems into their policies.; This study focuses particularly on indigenous peasants in the Andean region of Latin America. It looks at indigenous peoples' alternatives and challenges with regard to the issue of sustainability. Specifically, the study (1) analyzes selected collective enterprises of indigenous peoples of the Andean region, and (2) identifies those internal and external factors within the given communities that facilitate or inhibit a process of sustainable development.; Conceptually, this research is interdisciplinary and draws on my studies in the areas of entrepreneurship, environmental management and development studies, as well as my background in anthropology. Methodologically, this research is qualitative and inductive in nature. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
