Los bienes comunes naturales en el proceso constituyente chileno – The natural commons in the Chilean constituent process
Writen by Luis Lloredo Alix (UAM).
Abstract
The rejection of Chile’s constitutional proposal on September 4 marked a pivotal moment in the nation’s constitutional process, which began with student protests in 2019 amid widespread discontent with neoliberalism. Gabriel Boric’s rise to power aimed to challenge the political status quo and foster a new constitution addressing social rights and environmental protections. Despite Boric’s waning influence, the push for constitutional change remains strong due to ongoing social dissatisfaction, as reflected in the draft’s emphasis on citizen participation, gender parity, and representation for indigenous communities.
The rejected draft highlighted crucial issues regarding the management of common goods, advocating for strong ecological protections and recognizing the rights of nature. It introduced the concept of natural common goods, which aims to redefine public ownership beyond state control. Moving forward, the challenge lies in preserving these contributions while navigating tensions between local sovereignty and global common goods, ultimately promoting democratic governance and preventing exploitation.
