MARKET, STATE, AND CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN-AMERICA BEYOND THE DEBT CRISIS - THE CONTEXT FOR RURAL-DEVELOPMENT

The development strategy emerging in Latin America implies a sharply r edefined balance in the relative roles of the market. the state, and c ivil organizations. Market liberalization has been extensive and inten se efforts have been undertaken to make the new rules credible. The st ate has been divested of many productive and regulatory activities, bu t descaling is a reflection of short-run stabilization policies and si gnaling, not of long-term tendencies since an active state remains str ongly in demand. Civil organizations are assuming active roles as alte rnative forms to produce and service members and as pressure groups. A griculture has gained considerably from the policy reforms. Together w ith democratic representation and decentralization of governance this gives renewed opportunities for successful rural development initiativ es.