L’extractivisme organique en Bolivie. De la lutte contre le néo-libéralisme aux luttes pour l’accès aux ressources naturelles

Abstract

In Bolivia, the «return of the state» under the presidency of Evo Morales was confronted with forms of self-organization of natural resources, notably mining and water. They were based on a body of knowledge, practices and infrastructure at the origin of «organic extractivism» which we define as the sovereignist claims made by social organizations over natural resources. By introducing this concept, we wish to show that the difficulties of government management with regard to natural resources do not so much arise from inconsistencies in government as from the dynamics and strategies of resistance of social organizations to state projects. The main change that Bolivian society experienced with the victory of Evo Morales was thus the shift from a common front of social organizations against so-called «neoliberalism» to an internal struggle between them for the control of natural resources.

Keywords

• water
• natural resources
• Bolivia
• mines
• infrastructure