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Abstract
In this article, we address the question of regional development by arguing
that a new approach motivates government policies at this level. We present
the case study of a cooperative representing a strategy of a community trying
to better control its socio-economic destiny. By taking charge of its
destiny and influencing the rules that will preside over its socio-economic
development, the community (including employees) is thus able to influence
the orientation of its development according to the larger needs of the
community. In other words, an opportunity is created to define socioeconomic
development according not only to economic demands, but also
to cultural and social ones within the community. Many situations present
themselves on the continuum that goes from strictly private entrepreneurship
that first and foremost satisfies the needs of the owners, to collective
entrepreneurship geared towards serving the association of workers and the
community’s interests. Our case study demonstrates the role played by the
mobilization of certain social actors in the community, in the creation of a
collective enterprise. It also shows how the conditions of this entrepreneurial
effort may prevent the redefinition of economic rules that would not
easily allow a development based, at least in part, on the larger demands of
the community.