“One capitalism and one global oligarchy? Wealth, social closure, and political power in Latin America”

HEREDIA, MARIANA

Hamburgo

Encuentro; Rethinking political regimes: Oligarchy, capitalism and Contemporary hierarchies; 2022

Hamburger Institut für Sozialforschung

The works of Piketty constitute a turning point in the analyses of social inequalities opening an enriching debate about breaks and continuities in capitalist societies. Originally inspired by the study of Western Europe and the United States, these ideas may need adjustments when imported by late industrialized countries. Wealth, social closure, and political power do not just vary in their extent but also in their meaning. Throughout the analyses of 4 big Latin-American countries’ specific social and institutional structures and the exam of their national mediations, this paper reveals the risks of generalizing diagnosis and proposals with no criticism and suggests an alternative approach.