Territorial Accumulation Conceived Through the Articulation of Coloniality, Modernity, and Capital

Reflections From the Metropolitan Region of La Paz / El Alto, Bolivia

Authors

  • Juan Manuel Arbona CIDES-UMSA; IHP

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/bsj.2025.374

Keywords:

Territorial accumulation, borders, historical forces, Bolivia

Abstract

This essay proposes a view of territorial accumulation that articulates the historical forces of colonization/coloniality, modernity, and capital. In this sense, territorial accumulation is interpreted as the materialized condensation of these historical forces in the organization of territory and the hierarchization of bodies. The idea of borders (and specifically ‘border technologies’ and ‘border struggles’) is used as an analytical dispositif that allows an articulation analysis of these historical forces in the territory and over bodies. The metropolitan region of La Paz/El Alto is used to illustrate these processes and condensations. Different moments in this metropolitan region illustrate how territorial accumulation is an open process where the sediments of  historical forces are in constant tension and negotiation.   

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Published

2025-12-11

Issue

Bolivian Studies Journal Vol. 31, 2025

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Juan Manuel Arbona

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