The Energy Politics of Latin America

Abstract

Energy policy debates in Latin America are tied to the region’s fundamental policy dilemmas regarding the role of the state and the market in the economy and the quest for inclusive development. The global commodity boom that started in 2003 and lasted a decade allowed socially minded governments to address poverty and inequality and reassert the role of the state in energy resource extraction and management. At the same time, the commodity boom spurred resistance, as broad sectors of society view globalization as a driver of profound change that brings uneven benefits and threatens more disadvantaged sectors of society. This opposition became evident in the increase in social protests against large-scale energy projects, in particular by indigenous communities embracing a new environmental agenda based on identity and human rights.