La lógica de la inacción colectiva. (notas críticas a una sorprendente apología liberal del individualismo)

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to contribute to thc discussion concerning the relationship between the individual and the group, especially that of collcctive action, through the exposition ad c¡itical annotations of Mancur Olson's "founding" work, one of his now classic analyses within the field of contemporary liberal individualism and perhaps the most recognized as an essential reference point for the defenders of the other schools of thought. The sole formulation of Olson's thesis is a incitation to the debate in Social Anthropology, as well as to that of Political Science, Sociology, History, and Economics. Olson himself controversially dwelops his principal consequences in all these fields. His current relevance is evident from the first reading. For these reasons, and because in spite of tlhem he is little known in Latin American circles, I have chosen to attempt in this article a formalization of Olson's argument that highlights his substantial theoretical considerations, serves as an introduction to his reading, and identifies some points for a discussion from a perspective that is diametrically opposed to that of individualism.