Development as Terracide: Sacrifice Zones and Extractivism as State Policy in Mexico

Development as Terracide: Sacrifice Zones and Extractivism as State Policy in Mexico

Abstract

  • Mexico's declaration of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in 2017 indicates a significant territorial shift with geopolitical implications.

  • SEZs represent a culmination of three decades of state policies prioritizing hydrocarbon and mineral extraction (neoliberal reforms began in 1992).

  • The proliferation of SEZs and sacrifice zones (abandoned, polluted, or eliminated areas for economic growth) emphasizes a move towards sustainable development or decarbonization.

1. Introduction

  • Special Economic Zones (SEZs):

    • Designated by President Enrique Peña Nieto in 2017 across five ports (Chiapas, Coatzacoalcos, Lázaro Cárdenas, Salina Cruz, Progreso).

    • Classified as priority areas for national development to foster contributions from private and social sectors.

    • Aligns with extra-statecraft, described by Keller Easterling, which operates outside traditional governance (Easterling 2016).

  • SEZs are connected to historical and contemporary capitalism, impacting industrial development, land use, and environmental practices (Azamar 2022; Vargas 2022; Vázquez-Rodríguez 2023).

2. Conceptual Framework

  • Value vs. Waste in Capitalism:

    • Waste is conceptualized as opposite to value and critical for political economy (Gidwani 2012).

    • Sacrifice zones are contrasted with SEZs, highlighting places devalued for profit and technological advancement (De Bruyn 2023).

  • The notion of the sacrifice zone:

    • Represent spaces abandoned for progress or deemed irreparable (Lerner 2017), encompassing extractive sites with environmental degradation.

    • Not merely unintended consequences of capitalism but actively designated for exploitation (Hedges & Sacco 2014).

  • Dialectics of Sacrifice Zones:

    • Areas of Overlapping Territorialities: (Agnew & Oslender 2010), affirm state-capital nexus while enabling resistance (Leff 2017).

3. Sacrifice Zones as an Organizing Concept of Extractive Capitalism

  • Sacrifice zones are categorized based on different capitalist regimes (Fraser 2022), organizing spaces for extraction and commodifying nature.

  • Historical context links to imperialism and colonialism, demonstrating a persistent relationship between extraction and dispossession (Andreucci & Zografos 2022).

  • Notions of green extractivism emerge alongside calls for sustainable development, suggesting that certain ecologies and populations are sacrificed for low-carbon infrastructure (Dunlap 2019; Yañez & Moreno 2023).

4. Sacrifice Zones in Mexico as an Institutionalized Development Policy

  • Reorganization of Spaces:

    • Driven by state-led policies linked to neoliberal reforms, resulting in over 560 recorded environmental conflicts (EJAtlas 2024).

    • Documented violence against land defenders, revealing impunity and systemic violence against marginalized communities (Global Witness 2024).

  • Neoliberal Reforms:

    • 1992 reform of Article 27 of the Constitution led to land privatization and the weakening of communal ties (Dunlap and Fairhead 2014).

    • Shift allowed private sector involvement in energy for the first time in over 70 years, correlated with constitutional Energy Reform of 2013.

  • Political Changes:

    • AMLO's presidency has illustrated a tension between claims of rejecting neoliberalism while perpetuating extractivist structures (Tetreault 2023).

5. Proliferating Sacrifice Zones: Evidence from the Frontlines

  • Types of Sacrifice Zones:

    1. Metabolic Zones:

    • Areas like Tula face industrialized pollution impacts from proximity to urban centers, known for cement and fuel production.

    • Health issues, contamination of local agriculture, and claims for recognition as sacrifice zones persist (AASJT 2020).

    1. Green/Grey Zones:

    • Associated with projects such as the Maya Train, purportedly aimed at sustainable tourism, masking privatization and communal land erosion (Geocomunes 2024).

    1. Climate Zones:

    • Communities like El Bosque displaced by climate change effects, showcasing gradual environmental degradation linked to industrial development and fossil fuel reliance.

6. Discussion: Sacrifice and Resistance

  • Three categories of sacrifice zones exemplify colonial dynamics; however, overlap exists, with areas showing metabolic connections across different zones.

  • While state policies render certain populations expendable, resistance emerges through social movements seeking to restore visibility and agency over their lived experiences (Navarro & Barreda 2022).

  • This resistance has been termed eco-political knowledge-praxis, enabling local narratives against capital's exploitation (Navarro and Barreda 2023).

7. Conclusion

  • The concept of sacrifice zones reveals the insidious nature of state-led development in Mexico as a facet of internal colonialism, while simultaneously fostering spaces for resistance against imposed extractive practices.

  • A reconfiguration of the extractivist model necessitates recognizing diverse struggles against historical injustices and promoting pluriversal dialogues for future socio-ecological justice.