Open Lecture: Commodification and struggles for water in Latin America, in a context of climate crisis
La Open Lecture: Commodification and struggles for water in Latin America, in a context of climate crisis, This course is proposed by MODATIMA, the Movement for the Defense of Access to Water, Land, and Environmental Protection, which has over 15 years of experience in the territorial struggle for the decommodification of water in Chile. From a historical and territorial perspective, this course seeks to understand how water has been transformed into a market commodity and what the main social, community, and political struggles have been for its defense and recovery, as well as the challenges faced by social organizations in Latin America. Therefore, this space offers a process of training and critical reflection on the commodification and privatization of water in Latin America, within the current context of climate crisis and the expansion of extractive industries.
The course emphasizes experiences of resistance and collective organization driven by communities, social movements, socio-environmental organizations, and feminist movements, as well as the relationship between water defense and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Through the examination of emblematic cases in countries such as Chile, Brazil, Bolivia, and Uruguay, strategies, lessons learned, and proposals developed from within these territories to confront dispossession and strengthen water defense will be explored.
MODATIMA seeks to contribute to the political and social debate on water as a human and natural right, promoting the exchange of experiences and the building of networks among those who fight to defend their territories. In a context marked by the climate crisis and discourses on energy transition, the course invites participants to collectively consider alternatives that prioritize water for communities and life, over its commodification and exploitation.
Description
In this session we will talk about how water has become a political and economic dispute and why it has been a crucial struggle, although not the only one in our movement.
Water conflicts in Latin America stem from historical and structural processes of commodification and privatization, which have transformed this common good into an economic resource subject to market interests. We will discuss how the appropriation of water by private actors has been facilitated, impacting access to and the human right to water for rural and urban communities.
Participants
- Stephanie Barraza López – Coordinator of the open chair – MODATIMA Chile, Coordinator of the Biobío territory.
- Pilar Morales Vergara – Coordinator of the open chair – MODATIMA Chile, in charge of training for the movement.
- Carolina Vilches – MODATIMA Chile, Technical Manager of the movement.
- Cristobal Rodriguez – MODATIMA Chile, National Spokesperson of the movement.
Bibliography
- Harvey, D. (2004). The new imperialism. Akal. [Originally published as The New Imperialism, 2003]. Retrieved from https://rfdvcatedra.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/350975756-david-harvey-el-nuevo-imperialismo-pdf.pdf
- Stiglitz, JE (2002). The malaise in globalizationTaurus. Retrieved from https://www.economia.unam.mx/profesores/blopez/EC-STIGLITZ3_Capitulo1.pdf
- Aris, H., & Rivera, E. (April 27, 2018). The political nature of the drought in Petorca. CIPER Chile. https://www.ciperchile.cl/2018/04/27/la-naturaleza-politica-de-la-sequia-en-petorca/
- Larrain, S. (February 17, 2012). The privatization of water in Chile violates Human Rights. CIPER Chile. https://www.ciperchile.cl/2012/02/17/la-privatizacion-de-las-aguas-en-chile-viola-los-derechos-humanos/
- CNN Chile. (April 19, 2012). Modatima reports water theft in Petorca [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v__ysheIEQ
- Vilches Fuenzalida, C. (December 2, 2020). Water dignity, until the Petorca River returns [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTWzCTE71Js
- Latin American Observatory of Environmental Conflicts [OLCA]. (n.d.). Accusation of water usurpation in the Province of Petorca by large agricultural companiesRetrieved February 11, 2026, from https://porlatierra.org/casos/208/actores
To keep thinking
Where is the commodification of water heading in Latin America? Are we seeing the end of this model, or is it becoming even more entrenched?
Description
In this session we discussed the struggles of indigenous peoples in Latin America and their relevance not only in the struggles for water, but also for nature and territories, covering topics such as worldview, discrimination, human rights and territorial rights, mentioning emblematic cases of struggles in Latin America.
Participants
- Pilar Morales Vergara – Coordinator of the open lecture series. MODATIMA Chile, in charge of movement training.
- Camila Inostroza Huaracán – MODATIMA Chile. Wallmapu Territory Coordinator.
- Juan Jofré Cañipa – MODATIMA Chile.
Bibliography
- Pereira, CF (2021) New centrality of territory and identity in social struggles and process of complexification of agricultural quests. Geosp Magazine. Volume/Number: v. 25, no. 3. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2179-0892.geousp.2021.145399.
- Bengoa, J. (2000). The indigenous emergence in Latin America. Fondo de Cultura Económica. https://share.google/CSSMjxEwJrHSv8pRq
- Porto-Gonçalves, CW (2009). Of knowledge and territories: Diversity and emancipation from the Latin American experience. Polis: Latin American Magazine, (22), 121-136. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=2951365
- Pereira, J., Chonchol, MJ, Choque, M., Dini, C., & González, C. (2016). Participatory inventory of socio-environmental conflicts in the Arica and Parinacota Region: Bringing students closer to local issuesNational Institute of Human Rights; University of Tarapacá. https://bibliotecadigital.indh.cl/items/ec356501-65cc-4205-b584-d8a674b15e56
- Quiroga, B. (December 16, 2019). 1990 First march for territory and dignity [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlpqi6zmYAU
To keep thinking
What are the challenges for indigenous communities in facing the climate and socio-ecological crisis in the current political context?
Description
In this session, we delve into the key role played by women defenders of territories in Latin America, who have been leading movements and territorial struggles. This is because they are the most affected by territorial conflicts, but at the same time, they have been the main agents of resistance.
Participants
- Stephanie Barraza López – Coordinator of the open chair – MODATIMA Chile, Coordinator of the Biobío territory.
- Pilar Morales Vergara – Coordinator of the open lecture series. MODATIMA Chile, in charge of movement training.
- Manuela Royo – MODATIMA Chile, National Spokesperson of the movement.
Bibliography
- Royo Letelier, M. (2019). Ecofeminisms and water: A community struggle for justice. First steps, (11), 30-36. Available here.
To keep thinking
What are the main challenges that women land defenders face today?
Description
In this final session, we will recap the previous sessions and discuss proposals and challenges related to the problem of water commodification, as well as strategies and tactics we should adopt to continue resisting the offensive that seeks to steal water from territories, affecting human rights and the rights of nature.
Participants
- Stephanie Barraza López – Coordinator of the open chair – MODATIMA Chile, Coordinator of the Biobío territory.
- Pilar Morales Vergara – MODATIMA Chile, Head of Movement Training, Coordinator of open lectures.
- Carolina Vilches – MODATIMA Chile, Technical Manager of the movement.
- Lucas Alcayaga – MODATIMA Chile, Political Officer of the movement.
Bibliography
- MODATIMA. (2020). Struggles for water in our AmericaModatima Editions. Available here.
- Núñez, D., Mella, E., & Silva, I. (Eds.). (2025). Notes on overcoming neoliberalism: Paths to a new development modelAmerica in Motion Editions.
- Environmental CreAction Foundation. (2024). Our Home, Our Watercourse: A Manual for Self-Management of Domestic Water. https://creaccionambiental.cl/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Nuestra-Casa-Nuestro-Cause-Manual-para-la-autogestion-del-agua-domestica.pdf
- MODATIMA. (August 10, 2019). Modatima in the Water Resources and Desertification Commission [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESRDaCl6gZo
To keep thinking
Given the current sociopolitical landscape, what path forward should territorial organizations and movements take? What tactics and strategies for struggle are urgently needed today in Latin America and the world?
