La transición desde el desarrollo local

Abstract

The article argues that local development in Latin America must be understood as part of a broader historical transition shaped by globalization, structural reforms, and the erosion of sovereignty in peripheral states, which fragment territories and weaken their decision-making capacity. Faced with a state captured by global interests and domestic elites, Romero contends that local development should not be reduced to isolated projects but should serve as the foundation for rebuilding a national and democratic state through power socialization, regional articulation, citizen participation, and the construction of alternatives to neoliberalism. This transition requires redefining the relationship between market, state, and society, overcoming their false opposition, and advancing toward a political project that democratizes the economy and territory from below.