Land dispute, Forced Displacement, and De-Peasantization: Counter-Agrarian Reform and Agro-Export Expansion in San Pedro de Melipilla (1973–2021)

Abstract

The perspective of migration studies is incorporated into research on peasant mobility in Chile, analyzing the processes of displacement and depeasantization in San Pedro de Melipilla between 1973 and 2021. The topic is addressed from the forced displacement of families during the agrarian counter-reform, to the abandonment of lands and traditional ways of life by the peasantry in the context of the agro-export advance. It is postulated that the agro-export model is not only born from depeasantization, but also reproduces it, expanding as the peasantry is reduced and the ownership of land and water is concentrated in the business community of the sector.