Proyecto Hidroaysén: capitalismo extractivista, regulación estatal y acción colectiva en la Patagonia

Abstract

In this article we understand that the axis of environmental conflicts in general and on Patagonia in particular, is defined by the specific form of production planning, in other words: the use of natural assets, the relationships established with nature, forms of government in these territories (actors) and their relationship they establish with others. The emergence of this type of conflict is explained by the expansion of extractive capitalism in border areas and the limited presence of the state at local level, in terms of service delivery and weak environmental regulation which ends favoring exogenous interests, in opposition to endogenous ones. On the face of the announcement of the construction of five hydroelectric plants in the Aysen region, in this paper we analyze the action of the three main actors: Community, State, and private enterprise, who interact during the process of discussion and approval of the Hidroaysén megaproject, proposing each actor scenarios based on different rationalities which define contradictory development models for a bioregion. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]