Rural Citizenship in Extractive Frontiers: effects of neoliberalism in practices of citizenship

The recent constituent discussion in Chile has opened a debate on the pillars and principles that sustain the social pact between the Chilean State and those who inhabit its territory. The definition of citizenship has been approached from the perspective of the expansion of rights and guarantees, recognizing the territorial dimension of their exercise. The article examines citizenship practices in rural territories to propose a topography of rural citizenship practices. The expansion of extractivist activities under a neoliberal state has given way to resentment and fragmentation of decision-making spaces, which generates a topography of archipelagic citizenship practices that erodes the legitimacy of these spaces and clientelistic practices of relationship with the State. The argument we develop is that the emerging topography shows gaps and scalar variations depending on the historical trajectories of the relationship with the State (legitimacy of past and present interventions) and the argumentative capacity of those who inhabit the rural territory in the presence of extractive activities current in it. The presentation analyzes two regions characterized as resource frontiers in Chile: Aysén and O'higgins, where the salmon and fruit industries have connected historically rural territories with global production networks. Fieldwork and interviews were carried out in these regions. Three topographic categories (slopes, undulations and undercuts) emerge from analyzing the configurations of decisional spaces in rural territories. 

Places are limited and so any academic colleagues or students interested in attending in person should register a place here.