Latin American mining in the 21st century: from neo-liberalism to neo-extractivism

Abstract

In Latin America has unleashed an intense controversy about the depletion of natural resources by the application of an extractive model, the unequal powers between the transnational mining industries and the consumer countries, and the impacts that this activity triggers in the social, economic,  environmental and cultural field of peripheral countries. This paper establishes that international power centers have imposed on these Nations changes in the economic model and adjustments to the mining laws, given that commodities became one of the most attractive businesses to global financial capital. The background to this situation is the growing need that industrialized countries are experiencing to stock up on natural resources and energy, necessary for the production of goods. Finally, it presents itself as a challenge, the need to manage well the great natural wealth and advance its exploitation in a rational manner and with criteria of sustainability, for the benefit of national majorities.