extractivism
/ɪkˈstræktɪvɪzəm/
Definition
An economic and political system characterized by the intensive removal and exploitation of natural resources, often resulting in significant environmental damage and the marginalization of local or Indigenous communities.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Latin 'extractus', meaning 'drawn out', combined with the suffix '-ism' to denote a systemic practice. It gained prominence in modern political and environmental discourse to describe the negative consequences of resource-dependent economic models.
In the news
In this article, the term describes a core threat to Indigenous communities, alongside climate change and militarization, as governments and industries prioritize resource extraction over the rights and autonomy of Indigenous peoples on their traditional lands.
As climate and conflict collide, Indigenous leaders confront overlapping crises at the UN
Read the full article ↗grist.org