Gold, Oil, And Avocados

Autori

• Mark Hammond
• Andy Robinson

Parametri

• 352 pagine
• 13 ore di lettura

• Business & Management
• Politica
• Saggistica
• Scienze politiche & Politica
• Tema stórico

Maggiori informazioni sul libro

The past decade has witnessed significant political turmoil in Latin America, from Brazil to Venezuela. To grasp these changes, consider the origins of your quinoa and lithium batteries. The 21st century began with optimism as left-leaning leaders implemented programs aimed at reducing poverty and reclaiming national wealth. However, by the late 2010s, many of these leaders began to fall from power. The decline of this ‘pink tide’ can be traced back to the region's resource-rich lands and exploitative extraction practices. Through a commodity-by-commodity analysis, Andy Robinson illustrates the connections between various resources and political events, such as how oxen relate to Jair Bolsonaro's rise, the role of quinoa in the unrest surrounding Evo Morales, and oil's influence on Venezuela's ongoing crisis. Beyond traditional resources like gold and bananas, Robinson highlights the significance of newer commodities, including coltan for smartphones and lithium for electric cars, in shaping Latin America's future. As the global energy transition drives mineral prices up, the region remains vulnerable to the fluctuations of commodity markets. This exploration reveals how the imperial exploitation of the past continues to affect Latin America today.

Lingua: Inglese

Pubblicato: 2021

(Copertina rigida)