Constitutionalism and the geo-economic bind: the extractivist model

This article examines the relationship between constitutional orders and extractivism, arguing that access to and control over natural resources play a fundamental role in shaping constitutional orders. Moving beyond traditional constitutional theories that emphasize political freedom while marginalizing material conditions, the article situates resource extraction within the broader context of political economy and international investment law. The study highlights how extractivist economies influence constitutional transformations, limiting the exercise of constituent power and shaping institutional frameworks. It then demonstrates the constitutional impact of extractivism through two case studies: Mongolia and Chile. In Mongolia, the need to attract foreign investment in mining led to constitutional changes that centralized executive power and weakened local governance, while curtailing certain political freedoms. In Chile, the attempt to draft a new constitution was constrained by entrenched economic structures favouring corporate interests. Ultimately, the article argues that extractivism imposes geo-economic constraints on constitutionalism, necessitating a materialist analysis that integrates political economy into constitutional theory. Understanding the role of resource valorization is essential to rethinking the structural limits of contemporary constitutional orders.

Keywords: Geopolitics, War, Realism, Capitalism, Will to Power.

Marco Goldoni, Costituzionalismo e vincoli geoeconomici: il modello estrattivista in "DIRITTO COSTITUZIONALE" 1/2025, pp 107-130, DOI: 10.3280/DC2025-001005