BUENVIVIR Allison Braithwaite Essay

Introduction Numerous movements have been implemented in the Amazon in attempts to alleviate inequality. Until now, most have focused on stimulating economic growth. Although the GDPs of many South American countries grew substantially over these periods of time, this growth came at the cost of environmental degradation through deregulated extractivism and did not improve living conditions for the many people living in extreme poverty. In fact, development projects often displace traditional and indigenous people, leading to resistance and unrest. Recently, scholars and indigenous groups have begun presenting an alternative to traditional development philosophies, called “buen vivir.” The movement aims to improve people’s quality of life and protect the environment by shifting society and the governments’ focus away from materialism and growth and instead towards harmony with nature. The philosophy is based on indigenous values and concepts, but does bear resemblance and share ideals with many modern and historic Western movements. This paper will first explain the concept of buen vivir by presenting it’s scholarly definitions and constitutional forms, and using a case study to demonstrate how buen vivir could be practically implemented as a developmental philosophy. I will then examine the similarities between buen vivir and other movements, and ask whether those similarities help or hinder the widespread adoption of buen vivir.

Background “Buen vivir,” which roughly translates to “good living,” is a Spanish term that encompasses several similar indigenous South American concepts. The Quechua, Aymará, Guarani, Ashuar, and Mapuche are just some of the South American peoples with philosophies based around the need for a “good,” fulfilling life (Thomson 2011). Eduardo Gudynas analyzes in particular “suma quamaña,” a Bolivian concept maintaining that “good living” comes from “a harmonious balance between material and spiritual components... in the context of a