The Take

The Take is a 2004 documentary film directed by Avi Lewis and produced by Naomi Klein, which explores the Argentine economic crisis and its impact on the country's working class. The film features interviews with Eduardo Galeano, Susan George, and José Bové, among others, and examines the effects of neoliberalism on Latin America. The Take has been screened at various film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival, and has been praised by critics such as A.O. Scott of The New York Times and Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Definition and Concept

The Take refers to the worker self-management movement in Argentina, where workers took over abandoned factories and businesses to restart production and create jobs. This concept is closely related to the ideas of anarchism and syndicalism, which emphasize the importance of worker control and direct action. The Take has been influenced by the works of Mikhail Bakunin, Peter Kropotkin, and Rudolf Rocker, among others, and has been compared to similar movements in Spain, Italy, and France. The concept of The Take has also been explored in the works of Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, and Arundhati Roy, who have written about the importance of grassroots movements and community organizing.

History and Development

The history of The Take dates back to the 1990s, when Argentina was facing a severe economic crisis. The country's economy had been devastated by hyperinflation, unemployment, and poverty, and many businesses had been abandoned or closed. In response, workers began to organize and take over these abandoned factories and businesses, creating cooperatives and worker-owned enterprises. The movement gained momentum in the early 2000s, with the support of social movements such as the Piqueteros and the Movimiento de Trabajadores Desocupados. The Take has been influenced by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation in Mexico and the Landless Workers' Movement in Brazil, among other social movements in Latin America. The movement has also been supported by non-governmental organizations such as Oxfam and Amnesty International.

Types and Classifications

The Take can be classified into different types, including worker self-management, cooperativism, and mutualism. These types of organizations are characterized by democratic decision-making, worker control, and social ownership. The Take has also been compared to other forms of alternative economics, such as anarchist economics and green economics. The movement has been influenced by the works of E.F. Schumacher, Murray Bookchin, and Ivan Illich, among others, who have written about the importance of small-scale economics and local self-sufficiency. The Take has also been supported by institutions such as the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Development Programme.

Cultural Significance and Impact

The Take has had a significant impact on Argentine culture and society, and has been the subject of numerous documentary films, books, and academic studies. The movement has been praised for its innovative approach to economic development and its emphasis on social justice and human rights. The Take has also been recognized by international organizations such as the World Social Forum and the European Social Forum, which have highlighted the importance of grassroots movements and community organizing. The movement has been supported by celebrities such as Danny Glover and Oliver Stone, who have spoken out about the importance of social justice and human rights in Latin America. The Take has also been compared to other social movements in Latin America, such as the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela and the Pink Tide in Brazil.

Notable Examples and Case Studies

Notable examples of The Take include the Zanon factory in Neuquén, Argentina, which was taken over by workers in 2001 and has since become a successful cooperative. Another example is the Hotel Bauen in Buenos Aires, which was taken over by workers in 2003 and has since become a thriving worker-owned enterprise. The Take has also been studied by academics such as Marina Sitrin and George Caffentzis, who have written about the movement's significance and impact. The movement has been supported by institutions such as the University of Buenos Aires and the National University of Córdoba, which have conducted research on the movement and its effects. The Take has also been recognized by awards such as the Latin American Studies Association's Premio Iberoamericano and the American Sociological Association's Distinguished Scholarly Publication Award.