Development: Territorial Approaches in Latin America

In a world grappling with pressing challenges like economic volatility, social inequality, and climate change, traditional development strategies, largely focused on economic growth, often fall short. As these issues intensify, there is a growing need to explore alternative solutions that embrace inclusion and sustainability. One promising avenue is territorial development, a concept that has long been developed across Latin American academics and practitioners. As detailed in the new book, Territorial Development in Latin America: Cultural, Economic and Environmental Dimensions, it invites us to reconsider our traditional approach to development.

Territorial Development in Latin America differs from the European definition. In Latin America, territorial development is closely linked to understanding territories as spaces of power struggles, emancipation and identity. Thus, to understand territorial development, it is crucial to approach the idea of territory more critically. Territory accounts for power struggles, practices, and attachments between the space and its inhabitants. It goes beyond administrative borders and state-centric models to embrace social, ecological, and cultural dimensions. Understanding territory as this connection between people and places can help craft policies and practices that are not only equitable but also responsive to local contexts and needs—a key principle of territorial development. Territorial development urges us to centre efforts around the well-being of communities and ecosystems, primary to economic metrics.

The book is structured into two parts. The first four chapters provide a theoretical and historical foundation, connecting development with spatial concepts grounded in Latin American literature. This section also reflects on Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a methodology that can effectively address the complexity of territorial development and encourages the adoption of decolonial research practices. The following chapters feature case studies that demonstrate how various interpretations of territory and development directly affect people’s lives:

– Chapter 5 looks at development in Argentina through the lens of new dependency theory. The chapter explores resistance against agribusiness and proposes agroecology as a counterhegemonic strategy.

– Chapter 6 discusses the exclusion of small-scale yerba mate farmers in Brazil due to neoliberal policies favouring productivity and profit. The chapter advocates for development models that consider local actors and traditional practices to achieve more inclusive development.

– Chapter 7 explores the diversity of actors and interests in Chaco, Argentina, confronted in infrastructure planning. Territory is depicted as a contested political space where existing development models are mutually exclusive.

– Chapter 8 describes how traditional Maya households in Mexico preserve biocultural territories that serve as spaces of cultural resistance and ecological sustainability.

– Chapter 9 explores how local priorities and approximations to the territory shape cooperation agendas to address problems created from imposed economic policies.

– Chapter 10 examines the territorial dynamics of drug dealing in San José, Costa Rica, revealing that power exertion is limited to drug businesses, although it does shape socio-spatial configurations.

– Chapter 11 synthesises the book’s contributions and offers insights on future research directions and public policy developments.

The book shows how territorial development is not merely a theoretical shift; it can be a transformative concept that reconnects development practices with the realities and needs of communities. The case studies illustrate real-world scenarios where practices and local actors redefine development while confronted with external agendas that often create conflicts and struggles. This invites researchers and policymakers to consider the interplay of local and global forces, history, power dynamics, and diverse worldviews, recognising that local communities are not just beneficiaries, but active agents in shaping their futures.

Territorial development emphasises local contexts, knowledge, and power dynamics, aiming to empower marginalised communities and foster sustainable practices. As we learn from Latin American experiences, it becomes clear that addressing development requires rethinking conventional approaches and embracing strategies that honour the richness and diversity of human relationships across communities and with the natural environment.

This book invites readers to rethink entrenched development narratives, fostering a dialogue that not only critiques existing models but also explores pathways towards inclusivity and sustainability. If you wish to engage further with the ideas of territorial development, we invite you to attend our upcoming webinar where the book authors will discuss their contributions.

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The book can be purchased here: Territorial Development in Latin America

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