Building roads: an approach to the concepts of power, technology and conflicts in two Andean Countries

Abstract

Los caminos, puentes y carreteras no solo son mecanismos de conectividad entre dos o mas puntos geograficos. La existencia de este tipo de redes de comunicacion transciende su primara funcion comunicativa para convertirse, en palabras de Bryan Pfaffenberger, en una “tecnologia de poder” y, por tanto, en un capital sujeto a disputa entre grupos. Partiendo de esta premisa, el presente articulo tiene como objetivo describir y analizar las multiples dimensiones que supone la construccion de caminos y carreteras para las sociedades. Para ello, se ha abordado de forma sistematica la definicion de lo que es y significa la idea de “carretera”, se ha establecido un marco teorico basado en el concepto de “poder” de Steven Lukes, de “agencia” de John Law y en la nocion de “territorializing regime” de Fiona Wilson y se ha aplicado dicha propuesta analitica a varios casos de estudios localizados en Bolivia y Peru. Todo ello a partir fundamentalmente de fuentes secundarias. Abstract: Paths, bridges and roads are not only mechanisms to connect two or more geographical points. The existence of this type of communicating networks goes beyond their purely communicative function becoming, in the words of Bryan Pfaffenberger, a “technology of power” and therefore, in a capital subjected to power struggles among groups. Starting from this premise, the aim of this essay is to describe and analyse the multi-dimensional consequences the building of roads and paths have for society. For this reason, I have worked systematically on the definition of the idea of a road and its social meanings as well as established a theoretical frame based on the concepts of “power” by Steven Lukes, “agency” by John Law and “territorializing regime” by Fiona Wilson. Likewise, the article links this analytical proposal to several case studies located in Bolivia and Peru.