Work

The tech-utopianism of the Latin American libertarian Right

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This article analyses Nayib Bukele's failed Bitcoin experiment in El Salvador and Javier Milei's AI governance agenda in Argentina as cases of tech-utopian authoritarianism. Despite libertarian rhetoric, both reinforce corporate-technocratic power through state-backed technological solutionism. Bukele's cryptocurrency push, collapsed, while Milei's Big Tech alliances seek to replace institutions with opaque artificial intelligence (AI) systems. We argue these are subaltern digital utopias—peripheral capitalism's attempts to buy modernity through deregulation and privatization. By exposing Bitcoin's failure and AI's risks, we show how libertarian discourse masks power transfers to unaccountable corporations. The conclusion urges democratizing technology and social justice in Latin America's digital future.

Source: Dialogues on Digital Society

DOI: 10.1177/29768640251385694

Authors: Gustavo Matías Robles, Jorge Orovitz Sanmartino

Institutions: University of Passau, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Language: English

Topic: Ethics and Social Impacts of AI

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,400