The Political Economy of Agricultural Booms: Managing Soybean Production in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay

ISBN-13: 9783319459455 / Angielski / Twarda / 2016 / 154 str.

Mariano Turzi

Opis

This book offers an in-depth analysis of the political economy of soybean production in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, by identifying the dominant private and public actors and control mechanisms that have given rise to a corporate-driven, vertically integrated system of regionalized agricultural production in the Southern Cone of South America. The current agricultural boom surrounding soybean production has been aided by aggressive new agro-technologies, including biotechnology, leading to massive organizational changes in the agricultural sector and a significant rise in the power of special interest groups and corporations. Despite having similar initial production conditions, the pattern of economic activity surrounding soybean production in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, continues to be largely determined by the needs of the multinational corporations involved, rather than national considerations of comparative advantage. The author uses these findings to argue that the new international model of agricultural production empowers chemical and trading multinational companies over national governments.

Recenzje

"Turzi's analysis of soybean production in the three case studies dissects the political economy of Latin America and, to an extent, that of other developing regions, examining the role played by agribusiness and its dealings through the supply side. The book notably advances the concept of a 'soybean republic': an economic model that highlights the geo-economic pull of transnational corporations ... This book makes substantial contributions to the disciplines of agroeconomics and development. Whilst challenging, it is a rewarding read." (Josselin Canévet, LSE Review of Books, blogs.lse.ac.uk, February, 2019)

Spis treści

1. The International Political Economy of Agriculture

Driving Demand: The Four Fs

Soybeans and the World Market

Agriculture in the Latin American Economies

Soybeans in the Southern Cone

Linkages, Commodity Chains and the Political Economy of Agriculture

2. A Super-Seeding Business

The Institutional Frameworks

The Political Economy of Seeds

Argentina

Paraguay

Brazil

3. Global Trading

The New Global Agricultural Trade

World Grain Trade and the Soybean Chain

Finance and Infrastructure as Political Economy

Financial Instruments

Taxes / Duties

Infrastructure

4. Coordination: Brazil

The Amazon: Political Economy in Brazil's Far West

Land Struggles

5. Colonization: Paraguay

The Brasiguayos: An Intermestic Driving Force

The Far West

6. Confrontation (And Beyond): Argentina

A State Against the Campo?

O autorze

Mariano Turzi is Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Torcuato Di Tella University, Argentina. He has written on the international political economy of natural resources, introducing the “Soybean Republic” (Yale Journal of International Affairs) and the “Soybean OPEC” (Current History).

Blurb

This book offers an in-depth analysis of the international political economy of soybean production in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, by identifying the dominant private and public actors and control mechanisms that have given rise to a corporate-driven, vertically integrated system of regionalized agricultural production in the Southern Cone of South America. The current agricultural boom surrounding soybean production has been aided by cutting edge technologies, including biotechnology, leading to massive organizational changes in the agricultural sector and a significant rise in the power of special interest groups and corporations. The new international model of agricultural production empowers chemical and trading multinational companies over national governments and local producers. The author identifies the different social and political conflicts in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay; comparing and contrasting political economy structures and policymaking, regulatory and  institutional environments. 

Mariano Turzi is Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Torcuato Di Tella University, Argentina. He has written on the international political economy of natural resources, introducing the “Soybean Republic” (Yale Journal of International Affairs) and the “Soybean OPEC” (Current History).