The Prefigurative Politics of Cooperativismo in Puerto Rico
Miranda Martinez, Assistant Professor of Comparative Studies, presents her research as part of the NMTAP series. Drawing from fieldwork with credit unions in Puerto Rico, known as cooperativas de ahorros y crédito, Martinez explores the expansion of the cooperative movement since Hurricane María in relation to Grace Lee Boggs’ concept of “prefigurative politics,” which refers to how activists enact the change they wish to see in the world. Her work also examines the everyday practices of credit unions and how these differ from the policy framework known as “financial inclusion.”
The No More Than a Page series offers faculty and graduate students informal opportunities to share work in progress. Presenters pre-circulate no more than a page about a current research project, give brief remarks, and then join in discussion.