Models of Development and Sovereignty in Latin America: A Vision from Territorial Management

Abstract

The need to establish long-term development models that allow overcoming structural problems and deficiencies that strengthen sovereignty and promote equality and social equity for Latin America, has been at the centre of political and academic debate in recent years. However, in recent times, an ongoing process of economic and territorial expansion generating territorial imbalances, major environmental problems and high social conflict has hindered the achievement of this great objective. This work seeks to evaluate which elements and factors represent the greatest obstacles to the consolidation of sovereign development models, at the same time that it discusses the effective domination of territories and re-sources by Latin American States and their true capacity to carry out territorial political management. Through a theoretical approach and a case analysis, the paper identifies various problems common to most countries, offers some considerations regarding the importance of improving territorial management as a strategy to strengthen State sovereignty; and pinpoints challenges in the way to build an overall vision for the region in the international context.