Participatory Democracy in Oaxaca

​Participatory Democracy in Oaxaca

​For this Olio, by focusing on two municipalities in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, we will look at how people have organized and reorganized themselves in response and in opposition to capitalism. These municipalities offer lessons on democracy, the commons, and perhaps contain the seeds to better worlds. Coming back to Kingston, we can think about what those lessons can help us build here, what is a city charter, and what could a more democratic Kingston begin to look like?

​Bio: Sebastian Pillitteri is an adjunct professor at Bard College, he is also surprised by this. He has a Masters in Environmental Policy from Bard College and graduated in 2013, this as well. He works as an organizer and scientist while in the US, and teaches a course on municipal governance and participatory democracy annually in Oaxaca, Mexico. He spent four years living and working in Oaxaca for a local non-governmental organization called the Institute for Nature and Society of Oaxaca doing integrated watershed management for the Rivers Atoyac and Salado which flow through the capital city, Oaxaca de Juarez. According to a friend who grew up and lives in Oaxaca, he did a bad job because the rivers are still polluted. In Oaxaca, he got to know communities that had been managing communal lands for over 500 years, surprising for an economics major who heard many a time in his classes that this couldn’t happen.

​Moving to Kingston in 2017 put him in touch with people who deeply care about their city, process, and how we can construct a more democratic city. This deepened his interest in local governance, and he has been active in local political campaigns, some levels of municipal governance, and feels that this is one of his homes.

​The event image is art from Eduardo Galleano's Bocas del Tiempo

​FOOD

​This will be a dinner potluck. We will prepare some heartier dishes, and you should plan to bring a small side dish or snack to share. Follow-up coordination closer to date.

​DRINK

​We will be sharing Oaxacan mezcal from Palenque 5 Estrellas. Please bring any additional drinks (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) that you want to drink or share.

​TIMING

​6:30 PM Arrive and mingle and nibble
7:15 PM Olio starts

​VENUE NOTES

• ​Cat household: bring your zyrtec if you need it

• ​Shoes-off household: wear your cute socks