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Who hasn’t witnessed a clash between a piquetero (a protester) and someone rushing to work while walking through Buenos Aires? Marcos Pérez, a PhD in Sociology and professor at Washington and Lee University, USA, has published a book titled "What do Piqueteros Think?" which aims to dismantle the prejudices surrounding piquetero movements. In an interview with PERFIL, Pérez delves into the true motivations behind joining piquetero organizations and addresses the tensions between workers and piqueteros, who are also workers themselves.
Q: "Complicating life for everyone" or "living off the state" are some of the prejudices you mention observing around the piquetero activity. How did this image form?
A: There is significant media and political stigmatization of the piquetero movements. They emerged during the crisis of the convertibility era, driven by shared deprivation. Both the working and middle classes were severely affected. As the crisis of 2001 began to fade, so did the sympathy toward piquetero marches, which started to be seen as less justifiable disruptions. The history and name of the piquetero movement worked against them, being associated mainly with street blockages, despite most current roadblocks not being orchestrated by these organizations. The stigmatization of piqueteros as "those who don’t want to work" reflects longstanding social prejudices in Argentina against working-class politics.
Q: How does the separation between a piquetero and a worker occur, for example, when they are accused of preventing others from going to work?
A: Piquetero organizations are just one of many societal actors that block streets in Argentina. Most street blockages are done by various groups, not just piqueteros. Seeing it as a contrast between those blocking streets and those going to work, both are workers. The difference is employment status—one is employed, the other isn’t. Being a worker is an identity beyond employment status, a way of seeing the world and organizing life. A piquetero blocking a street is still a worker, just currently without a job.
Q: What do you think is the biggest myth about piqueteros?
A: A prominent myth is that piqueteros are lazy. Long-term members of these movements participate not to avoid hard work but to create it. There’s a deep-seated belief in these movements that benefits require effort; only those who work hard deserve rewards. So, the notion that piqueteros aim to dodge hard work is indeed a myth.
Q: Do you think piquetero activities are effective today?
A: It depends on the criteria for effectiveness. Restructuring Argentina’s productive matrix is a complex task that goes beyond piquetero movements, requiring many social actors. However, regarding expanding and defending the rights of the marginalized, piquetero activities are effective. In a country where over 50% are poor and many workers are unregistered, organizations like the piqueteros are inevitable in a democracy as people mobilize to protect their perceived rights.
Q: What is the role of women in this world?
A: My research found that the piquetero movements aim to recreate an idealized working-class world, imbued with traditional gender roles. Men engage in activities associated with factory work, while women focus on domestic tasks. However, this hasn’t stopped women from taking leadership roles within various piquetero organizations. Even though men are overrepresented in leadership, many women have been and continue to be leaders at local, provincial, and national levels.
Q: You say piqueteros overcome their feelings of shame to join, can you elaborate on this initial decision?
A: Many from Argentina’s popular sectors share societal prejudices, including the stigmatizing label of the unemployed. Losing a job means losing an identity and social role, which contributes to reluctance in joining a movement of the unemployed.
Q: Besides merit by effort, what other values underlie this activity?
A: Human attitudes are shaped by upbringing and life experiences. In the piquetero movement, strong values around work, community, and family are highlighted, often idealizing past labor experiences within the factory, home, and neighborhood settings.
Q: AgustÃn Tosco opposed "union bureaucracy." When does street activism get lost in office stagnation?
A: Institutionalization and bureaucratization can shift a movement’s focus, but the administrative work behind the scenes enables organizations to help many families. The connections with the state create various opportunities. When activists become officials, they gain new opportunities while maintaining their activist spirit. The balance between bureaucratic and street activities varies by organization. Institutionalization often supports mobilization, harnessing resources for activism. Political activism by taking to the streets is a robust tradition in Argentina, ensuring the enduring strength of its democracy.
Q: Why did you choose this topic for your research?
A: This topic has always interested me. I finished secondary school in December 2001, and my high school and university years coincided with the rise of the piquetero movement. Media portrayals seemed unrealistic and stigmatizing. When I began my PhD, I focused on this movement, fascinated by the personal stories and how activists overcame obstacles.
Q: Are there high-class individuals in these movements?
A: High-class individuals rarely participate in piquetero movements, which are typically experiences of working or lower-class people. Some professionals may contribute to specific social projects, but high-class involvement is uncommon.
Q: What sacrifices do piqueteros make for their cause?
A: Sacrifices include juggling personal obligations with group commitments, donating resources, or providing personal spaces for activities. Volunteers often take on challenging tasks or show up even when not required to help out.
Q: Lastly, what do piqueteros think about?
A: My book highlights that the idea of work, and the desire to return to an idealized past centered around factories, homes, and neighborhoods, is central to piquetero activities. Essentially, piqueteros think about work—earning a living through diligence and contributing as best as they can to their organizations, families, and communities.
