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“The term extractivism is used in a broad sense for activities that remove large volumes of natural resources that are not processed (or which are limited), and are designated for export� (Gudynas 2009b).
Inside a Champion An Analysis of the Brazilian Development Model
It is not just about defending the labor force and recovering the surplus labor time for workers, that is, to oppose the exploitation of the workforce; it is about defending life against anthropocentric production schemes, which are bringing about the destruction of the planet caused by predation and environmental degradation. And of course, it is about continuing the fight to eliminate gender, ethnic, intergenerational, and other inequalities. This transformation should, of course, be extended to all those forms of production, such as extractionist ones, which sustain the material foundations of capitalism. The countries producing and exporting raw materials, that is, Nature, which are dutifully integrated into the world market, are vital for global capitalist accumulation and are also indirectly or even directly responsible for global environmental problems. Ultimately, extractivism2 is not compatible with the Buen Vivir – not only because it leads to the depredation of Nature, but also because it retains an exploitative labor structure in the workforce, which, moreover, does not even guarantee adequate jobs. It follows that the very organization of the economy must change profoundly. The market alone is not the solution, nor the state. The subordination of the state to the market leads to a subordination of society to market relations and individualistic egotism. Far from an economy determined by market relations, the Buen Vivir promotes a dynamic and constructive relationship between markets, state, and society. We must seek to build a pluralist society with markets, and not a market society that is commercialized. The aim is to prevent the establishment of an economy controlled by monopolists and speculators, as well as prevent the promotion of an extreme statist vision of the economy. Markets require a political re-conceptualization leading to appropriate regulations. Markets reflect social relations subject to the needs of individuals and communities. They should be understood as spaces for the exchange of goods and services according to the needs of society and not just the needs of capital. Moreover, the proper functioning of markets that comply with the instrumental aims that society assigns them can never be completely free. Free markets have never worked well and ended in different kinds of economic disaster. In no way can one believe that the whole economic system must be immersed in the dominant logic of the market, as there are many other relationships that are based on other principles of undoubted importance, such as solidarity for a functional social security system or social benefits, but also in other areas such as food, healthcare, and housing. Similar considerations could be made for the provision of public education, defense, public transport, financial services, and other functions that generate public goods that are not produced and regulated by supply and demand. Moreover, not all actors in the economy are motivated by profit. Specifically, the