Major development projects and the structural production of unsustainable environmental inequality: of macroethics and its justifications to "satellite entities"

Abstract

A phenomenon is now gaining ground in the media, academic, political, legal, business, and subaltern groups strives context: the emergence of confl icts around large extractive, agricultural, urbanistic, infrastructure and entertainment projects. What these initiatives, at a fi rst look so different, have in common? Which attributes would unite them in order that their integration could be seen as a broader project of power? Therefore, it is the aim of this article to analyze the modus operandi and some features that unite these projects, such as: State’s central action in ensuring its implementation; The formation of a "consortium" between governments and holders of capital, which articulates "projects" rules that if not followed by participants put them out of the game; Use of the idea of "public interest" as main argument for validate actions; "participative management" and "conflict negotiation" used to obtain "friendly agreements"; Coopt local leaders by threating them with loss of investment and business opportunities; To mobilize hopes around the promise of “compensation”; Performance of "satellite-entities" that orbiting around mega-projects help their conversion into a fact. Methodologically the analysis is divided into "comprehension levels" (from macro to micro-ethics) where arguments and actions of those who support and criticize the projects are articulated.