Forest Industry in Southern Chile. Transformations in the Rural Communities from Los Ríos Region (1985-2010)

Abstract

Neoliberalism has significantly reconfigured the regional scenario and social relations of production in this territory. However, this process is not completely new and actually deteriorates conditions historically developed within the capitalist framework. Therefore, we understand the system in a double dimension as both accumulating and regulating. Los Ríos Region is a fundamental territory for recognizing capitalist progress in the neoliberal phase. Such industries as the forest industry are key for understanding the neoliberal re-functionalization of productive spaces dedicated to traditional activities (i. e., agricultural and dairy), which have modified the historical dynamics of peasant communities after the advance of “neo-extractive” industries. This article analyzes from a microhistorical perspective a case study from the Mariquina community of Los Ríos Region, which has been affected by the growing and explosive development of the forest industry in the area. The methodology includes the review of the Trade and Property Registry and local press as well as in-depth interviews with farmers and other social actors involved in this process.