Resumo

SAUTU, Ruth. Subjective experiences of privatization of state owned enterprises in Argentina: A plea on behalf of case studies. Trab. soc. [online]. 2020, vol.21, n.34, pp.1-20. ISSN 1514-6871.

The objective of this study is to analize the selective reconstruction and subjective interpretation of the processes of privatization of state owned enterprises in Argentina in the nineties of the last century. Data comes from three in-depth interviews to one woman and two men who worked in these firms during several years. The representation that emerged from their accounts is highly positive, sustained in a strong sense of belongingness and identification with their enterprises. The existence of family and social ties reinforced their trust what fuelled as well their ideological positive collective representation. On its turn, privatizations are described as disrupting the pre-existent social order. Two key concepts are inferred from their accounts: loss of the paradise and subsequently mourning for their physical and psychic personal consequences. The conclusion discusses the empirical validity of case studies and their potential contribution to theory construction.

Palavras-chave : Subjective interpretation; privatization; social ties; mourning; psychic trauma; theory construction.