The Dialectics of Dependency

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Ruy Mauro Marini, a key figure in Latin American social thought, explored the dynamics of underdevelopment and development as products of global market relations and the class structures they create. In his foundational essay, the Brazilian sociologist illustrated how Latin America's focus on raw materials and food production, coupled with the import of manufactured goods, led to unequal exchange and value transfer to imperialist centers. This situation prompted peripheral capitalists to exploit workers through harsh conditions and inadequate wages, undermining their ability to sustain their labor. Consequently, Latin American economies transitioned from colonialism to a state of economic dependency on imperialist powers. This imbalanced relationship, which allows profits for both imperialist and dependent capitalists, has persisted through various international labor divisions, impacting the daily lives and struggles of Latin American workers. Written during a period of heightened class struggle in the 1970s and now available in English for the first time, Marini’s insights remain strikingly relevant. This work serves as an internationalist contribution from a Latin American Marxist to oppressed peoples worldwide, enriching contemporary discussions on the concept of "revolution" in a global context.