Tensions between peasants and entrepreneurs: The struggle to halt deforestation in the Colombian amazon within the framework of neoliberalism during the period 2011-2021

Abstract

This article examines the tensions between peasants and entrepreneurs in the context of deforestation in the Colombian Amazon during the period 2011-2021, under the influence of neoliberalism and peripheral capitalism. The main objective is to analyze the effectiveness of government policies in addressing deforestation, specifically focusing on the Artemis operation implemented by the Iván Duque administration. The primary conclusion emphasizes the close relationship between deforestation in Colombia and the forces of the global market and peripheral capitalism within the country. Economic activities, particularly extensive agro-industrial practices involving the exportation of products such as coffee, tobacco, banana, and coca, have played a pivotal role in the national economy. However, these practices have led to land dispossession through primitive accumulation, contributing to internal civil conflicts and forced displacement of peasants. Consequently, groups of settlers have sought livelihoods in border areas, propelling new agricultural projects. The article underscores the imperative to address deforestation and protect the environment from a more comprehensive and sustainable perspective, considering the social, economic, and environmental implications of government policies and economic activities in the Colombian Amazon region. It is crucial to differentiate between legal and illegal deforestation and understand the influences of peripheral capitalism and extensive agro-industrial practices on this issue.