Dominação externa, capitalismo dependente e sociedade de classes na América Latina: reflexões a partir das categorias de Florestan Fernandes

Abstract

The present study sought to open a framework of analysis in which the categories of external domination, dependent capitalism and class society were treated according to the multiple determinations that bind them to each other in the context of Latin America. A first aspect to be emphasized is that our theoretical reflection sought to be based on the historical presuppositions that are at the root of the formation of dependent capitalism. For this reason, we began our work on the theme of Latin American colonization, understood as a pattern of external domination and economic exploitation, according to Florestan Fernandes's conception. Then, by reassembling it as a movement of history that produced the determinations of origin of classical capitalism in the hegemonic nations, it was possible to identify the existence of its Latin American variant, as well as to describe the structural and functional characteristics that they distinguished the two cases. Concomitantly, we made notes on the configurations that the economy, society and the State tend to assume in the different models. Finally, we seek to understand the different determinations, internal and external, economic and extra-economic, that define the dependent, peripheral and underdeveloped character of Latin American capitalism.