Understanding the Vehicles of Capitalist Hegemony in Latin America : Capitalism in Context (Emerald Studies in Class and Inequality)

In recent decades, Latin America has grappled with crises, conflicts, and inherent contradictions deeply rooted in the capitalist fabric of social relations. In his groundbreaking research, author Daniel Felipe López Pérez delves into the historical foundations of enduring capitalist hegemonies across the region. Central to López Pérez’s exploration is the notion of “hegemonic vehicles”—a powerful lens for comprehending global politics. He redirects the focus of hegemony strategy, emphasizing how local bourgeoisies skilfully create, adapt, and perpetuate social institutions to mold social interactions in their favor. These institutions, often arising from significant historical, political, economic, and cultural milestones, underpin the current social order. Drawing on a class analysis spanning Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Mexico, López Pérez sheds light on the resilience of capitalist systems even amidst conflicts and crises. By tracing the historical trajectory of capitalist dominance, his work equips critics, scholars, activists, and the working class with tools to scrutinize the existing social system and strategically strive for a more equitable society. Through an exploration of historiographies, a contextual class analysis, and critiques of underlying ideologies, López Pérez challenges conventional interpretations of Latin American history. His deep dive into the nuanced relationships between power, social orders, and capitalism is essential reading for scholars in the fields of Latin American studies, political economy, and sociology.