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An study of collective action conceived as autonomous participation in a particular area of the urban periphery of Montevideo, Uruguay, it is intended to make visible the political action deployed in the territory, outside of institutional frameworks (partisan, state, union). Four diverse experiences in the Cerro area were studied. The objective was to understand the meaning that these groups build around their actions, their links with state agents and their strategies to build autonomy. A qualitative research was used, through in-depth interviews with the groups and participants' observations. Thematic content analysis and a phase in which the groups were convened to produce a final joint analysis were carried out. The results were analyzed in different axes. The article briefly presents those related to: the nomination of their practices and their conception as political action; horizontal and network dynamics, multiplicity and fluidity in integration; and different links with the State (from the protest as the only link to the search for synergy in actions). In the discussion, the importance of recent redefinitions of the notion of community is pointed out and clues are outlined to rethink terms such as "external agent" and "participation". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]