Becoming an agri-food super power: Exploring the politicization of the Chilean Food System

Sammanfattning: This thesis examines the creation and development of the modern Chilean Food System. Providing a description of the system focused on the production and consumption areas, the fruit export complex and the salmon industry are characterized. They are situated within the context of the process of neoliberalization experienced by the Chilean society after the Military Coup of 1973. The priority given to the exports sector is described and the role of the national food system as a part of the third food regime is explained. Through a Marxist analysis of the commodification of nature the research shows how the food system plays a fundamental role in the success story of the modern Chile, while causing environmental and social conflicts. A detailed view of the consumption patterns, including a massive increase in obesity rates, will show the changes happened during the development of the new productive sectors. The current disconnection between the production and consumption sectors will be addressed. Taking Mouffe’s theory, the thesis will show the apolitical condition of food in Chile, where despite the aforementioned situations, there is a lack of opposition to the food system as a whole. Based on a historical analysis, the research shows the neoliberal inspiration of the policies enacted since the Chilean Military Dictatorship. The need for a different approach to food will be highlighted, based on the evident inability of the hegemonic view to provide a healthy and sustainable diet to Chilean citizens.