Applications of the Implosión/Explosión Theory: The Relationship Between the Metropolitan Region of Santiago and the Productive Regions of Chile

Abstract

Based on Neil BrennerÍ€™s Implosion/Explosion theory, this article suggests evidence for a new theoretical conceptualization of the urbanization phenomena. The methodology considers the inclusion of the economic cycles of production that occur outside the city to the matrix analysis. The importance of this theory relies on the significant dissociation between capital accumulation spaces and productive territories. By analyzing the relationship between the Mining and Forestry production with sales associated to these economic activities, the article tests the pertinence of the application of the urban theory in the Chilean case. Furthermore, the research findings demonstrate that most of the sales occur in Santiago, whereas most of the production occurs in other regions. Therefore, the Implosions/Explosions urban theory results as pertinent for understanding some urbanization processes in Chile, and consequently, the article proposes research prospects based on the cartographies exposed in this article.