Buen Vivir (Sumak Kawsay), ¿alternativa al desarrollo occidental?

Abstract

In recent years there has been an important debate regarding the revision of the notion of development in Ecuador and Bolivia, in the context of the political changes experienced in both the countries. Sumak Kawsay concept (Good Living) became the benchmark for a new way of understanding development, linked to the recovery of the role of indigenous groups and the connection of the socio-productive model with the territory and local cultures. However Sumak Kawsay had several approaches by different perspective, for example from the nearest to the ruling party in power to the indigenous intelligentsia, or also another critical with the government but no in indigenous terms. This paper presents an analysis of a series of texts that exemplify these three trends