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 redefined balance in the relative roles of the market. the state, and civil organizations. Market liberalization has been extensive and intense efforts have been undertaken to make the new rules credible. The state has been divested of many productive and regulatory activities, but descaling is a reflection of short-run stabilization policies and signaling, not of long-term tendencies since an active state remains strongly in demand. Civil organizations are assuming active roles as alternative forms to produce and service members and as pressure groups. Agriculture has gained considerably from the policy reforms. Together with democratic representation and decentralization of governance this gives renewed opportunities for successful rural development initiatives.