Jorge Daniel Vasquez

The most challenging period for a company is the first three years following its inception, a period often referred to as the "valley of death." This article examines the factors contributing to the high mortality rate of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the town of Melipilla, Chile, and presents potential strategies for reducing or preventing this mortality. The study employs an exploratory-descriptive approach, utilizing a qualitative methodology and a cross-sectional sample size collected through convenience sampling and semi-structured interviews. Upon analysis of the aforementioned data, it becomes evident that contemporary SMEs have more convenient access to capital, technology, information, and financing. These resources, which were once considered distinctive and crucial for competitive advantage, are no longer as pivotal in generating value. Conversely, the findings highlight the pivotal role of human resources and their strategic management in developing distinctive competencies, which are essential for SMEs to create value and ensure long-term sustainability.

The following discussion with philosopher and political scientist Wendy Brown seeks to apply her provocative and indispensable ideas to recent political events and problems, in particular focusing on her work in Undoing the Demos (2015) and returning briefly to consider Politics Out of History (2001) in today’s context. The questions were collectively authored and the interview itself was conducted by Sebastian Raza via Skype on 23 May 2017. We would like to thank Wendy Brown for the generous contribution of her time and for answering the questions so directly and clearly.

El presente trabajo desarrolla referentes teóricos para el análisis de la categoría de adultocentrismo desde los planteamientos conceptuales formulados por Michel Foucault en el análisis genealógico de las formas de producción de la verdad y las normatividades. Ubicándonos desde un marco foucaulteano se formula el adultocentrismo como la articulación de saberes y prácticas en varios niveles: la conformación de regímenes de verdad, el disciplinamiento en las instituciones, la colonialidad adultocéntrica, y la biopolítica de la industria cultural. En este sentido, se reconoce que tal articulación deviene en representaciones sobre la juventud que demandan de una crítica elaborada desde la pedagogía como posibilidad de diálogo en torno a saberes y sensibilidades emergentes.