Globalization, development and Buen Vivir: Latin America in the construction of counter-hegemonic alternatives to the neoliberal world order

Abstract

This article aims to present some initial reflections about the potentialities and challenges of Buen Vivir (and the political and social movements inspired by it) as a platform for building a counter-hegemonic alternative to the neoliberal world order. Based on an essentially qualitative methodology, we presented a conceptual framework that allowed a better analysis of this issue, as well as a brief study of the cases of Bolivia and Ecuador. As a conclusion, it was possible to perceive that Buen Vivir, as a political platform originating in the worldview of the Andean indigenous peoples, consists of a framework of development challenge as established by the hegemonic world order in the current stage of globalization, so that it can be considered a force counter-hegemonic. However, some limitations in this process are identified, opening up margins for a possible later work that examines in more detail the possibilities of Buen Vivir in face of the challenges presented to it in the contemporary scenario.