Abstract

KAUFFER MICHEL, Edith F.. Addressing extractivism related to water in Latin America: towards the definition of a multifaceted contemporary socio-political phenomenon. Soc. ambient. [online]. 2018, n.16, pp.33-57. ISSN 2007-6576.

Based on fieldwork in various countries, particularly in Mexico and Central America, this article describes the changes in the concept of extractivism from a sustainability proposal in Brazil from 1970 to 1980 to a series of disturbing events that reflect profound environmental, social, political and economic contradictions. The paper provides an approach to extractivism in Latin America as a dynamic socio-political process related to natural resources and focuses on four interrelated components: actors, processes, extracted resources and local responses. It also discusses the contributions of Latin American literature and proposes a broader definition that makes is possible to place the socio-political components derived from its disputed, controversial and highly conflictive nature at the heart of the phenomenon. Lastly, it expands the definition of contemporary extractivism to water in the region, a topic that has barely been addressed in the current literature.

Keywords : extractivism; water; conflicts; socio-political phenomenon.

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