Financialization, hegemony and strategic minerals in Latin America: lithium governance in Bolivia, Chile and Mexico

Abstract

In this text, we argue that the governance of lithium in Latin America is conditioned by financialized capitalism, as well as by the new forms of hegemony in the world. With the US, Europe and China dominating the discussion on energy transition, the strategic minerals involved and the implications for their governance occupy less attention. Considering the interests linked to the energy transition, the enormous demand for minerals and the preponderant role of lithium, the governance over this strategic mineral in Latin American countries constitutes a focus of tensions and challenges, both for strategies to overcome dependence in Latin America in the context of financialization, as well as for new forms of exercising hegemony. The main objective of this article is to contribute to the discussion on the complex scenario in Latin American where countries face the challenges of dependence, in this case governance over lithium in Bolivia, Chile and Mexico, in the framework of new expressions of hegemony and financialized capitalism.