Development in Latin America: political economies as a matter of culture

Abstract

The growing unrest regarding the social, political, economic and environmental state of affairs in Latin America suggests a deep challenge of the development model. Ideas about development matter because they seek to bring about social states by solving what are regarded as social ills. However, its definition is being increasingly disputed. This article makes sense of that plurality. Applying grid group cultural theory to this debate produces four irreducible ideal-typical worldviews and notions of development: market-led, state-led, multiple community-led, and a mirage.

The Politics of Development in Colombia: Accounting for the Plurality of Development Models

“…Colombian individualist market-led development can be exemplified by the influence of neoliberalism. This is part of a widespread phenomenon that permeated the region at the level of ideas as well as at the level of practice (Garcés-Velástegui, 2022a, forthcoming). The 1980s and 1990s in Colombia were virtually dominated by neoliberal thought and unlike neighboring countries such as Ecuador and Venezuela, they prevailed throughout different governments until 2022.…”

“…Colombia, however, is not alone. Many countries in South America (e.g., Ecuador 2019Ecuador , 2022Peru 2022) have experienced social unrest regarding the direction they were heading and the avenues taken to get there (Garcés-Velástegui, 2022a).…”

“…Being an intrinsically normative term (Chambers, 2005), development suggests what is the desirable social state and how to get there. This means that no conclusive definition can be agreed upon, making it an essentially contested term (Garcés-Velástegui, 2022b), and that different development models and ideas advance distinct desirable social ends and means. They compete with each other for adherents and, ultimately, for translation into practice.…”

Varieties of development: On the plurality of political economies and how to harness it

“…However, one is more likely than the other. While individualism and hierarchy can converge in different ways, because markets require some state regulation and states need some market incentives, egalitarianism and fatalism are less likely to merge, despite the former being able to offer members of the latter a sense of belonging without domination (see, e.g.,Douglas, 1993).4 Another example is Vivir Sabroso, which comes from the afro-descendent communities in Colombia (seeGarcés- Velástegui, 2022b, 2022c.…”

“…4 4 Another example is Vivir Sabroso , which comes from the afro‐descendent communities in Colombia (see Garcés‐Velástegui, 2022b, 2022c). …”