Reality of Dreams: Post-Neoliberal Utopias in the Ecuadorian Amazon

The "Citizens Revolution" launched ambitious megaprojects in Ecuador's Amazon, aiming to liberate the nation from oil reserves and transform the region into a "twenty-first-century socialism." This book documents the project's failure, reinforcing the economic model it sought to overcome, and exploring the absurd dimensions of social reality under global capitalism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 02 November 2021
Publisher: Yale University Press

The Citizens Revolution, a transformative movement that took place in Ecuador's Amazonian region from 2007 to 2017, aimed to alleviate the country's dependence on Amazonian oil reserves and transform the region into a futuristic utopia. This ambitious initiative encompassed a series of post-neoliberal megaprojects, including an interoceanic transport corridor, a world-leading biotechnology university, and a planned network of two hundred "Millennium Cities." The vision was to create a new world of "twenty-first-century socialism" that would liberate Ecuador from its ecological crisis and transform the jungle region into a thriving hub of innovation and progress.

However, the reality of these megaprojects was far from utopian. The interoceanic transport corridor, for instance, faced numerous challenges, including technical complexities, environmental concerns, and political opposition. The biotechnology university, despite its impressive facilities and cutting-edge research, struggled to attract students and faculty due to the remote location and limited infrastructure. The Millennium Cities, intended to be model communities that showcased the benefits of socialism, faced similar issues, including poor planning, corruption, and lack of basic services.

Despite these setbacks, the Citizens Revolution remained committed to its vision of a socialist future. The movement's leaders believed that the megaprojects were necessary to create a new social order that would prioritize the needs of the people over the interests of corporations and the state. They saw the transformation of the Amazonian region as a way to create a model for other parts of the world to follow, and they believed that the megaprojects would ultimately lead to the eradication of poverty and inequality.

However, the megaprojects also had unintended consequences. They reinforced the economic model that the Citizens Revolution had been designed to overcome. The megaprojects required massive investments of capital and resources, which were often sourced from international lenders and investors. This led to increased dependence on foreign aid and foreign investment, which in turn reinforced the power of multinational corporations and the global financial system. The megaprojects also created new inequalities and social divisions, as they benefited a small elite of investors, developers, and politicians while leaving the majority of the population in poverty and without access to basic services.

In conclusion, the Citizens Revolution's megaprojects in the Ecuadorian Amazon were a testament to the power of utopian fantasies under conditions of global capitalism. While the movement's vision of a socialist future was admirable, the reality of the megaprojects was far from ideal. The movement's commitment to its vision ultimately reinforced the economic model that it had been designed to overcome, creating new inequalities and social divisions while failing to address the root causes of Ecuador's ecological and economic crises.

Weight: 368g
Dimension: 140 x 216 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300253429