Theatres of Accumulation

7 _­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_Ecuador: capital and theaccumulators _­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­_­__

Introduction

We come now to consider the other elements in the process of capital accumulation: those who accumulate, the methods by which they appropriate surplus, and the ends of appropriation/accumulation. The ruling groups of Cuenca and their activities there and in the larger urban centres, the Church, and the state and its policies will be the principal characters in this enquiry.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to generalize about the ways in which local ruling groups establish and maintain their power. This is especially true under conditions of capitalist modernization ...