At ECOAR))), a solidarity-based participation is sought. To understand it, it is necessary to know the models that precede it. Leadership, understood as the role of those who lead the group toward its objectives, influences which of them becomes consolidated. This article describes the gradation that goes from selfishness to altruism in social collectives.
The selfish model places personal benefit at the centre. Participation is instrumental: the collective is used to obtain advantages, reputation or contacts. Leadership tends to be transactional and vertical. The charitable model advances morally, but maintains an asymmetric relationship. Charity alleviates immediate needs without questioning structural causes. Leadership is assistentialist.
The generous model implies a stable commitment to the good of the group. Generosity offers time, goods and talent without immediate compensation. It comes close to servant leadership, which supports and respects members. However, it may still preserve distance between those who help and those who receive, so it does not always transform power relations.
The solidarity model is the most altruistic. Solidarity recognises shared dignity and is exercised among equals. It seeks social justice and structural change. Cooperative community leadership shares decisions and encourages all people to be protagonists. This is ECOAR)))’s horizon: active and transformative participation.