Neoliberalism, commercialization, and Higher Education in Latin America: a comparative study of Brazil and Chile

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate how neoliberal-oriented educational policies have influenced the process of the commodification of higher education in Brazil and Chile, identifying similarities and specific differences between these contexts. To this end, a comparative study is conducted that seeks to understand the historical process of neoliberalism’s consolidation and its implications for higher education policies. Next, the commodification of this level of education is analyzed, with an emphasis on the relationships established between the state and the private sector. The research is characterized by a qualitative, exploratory, and bibliographic approach, grounded in a critical analysis of the theoretical literature on the subject. The consolidation of neoliberalism, beginning in the 1970s, brought about profound political, economic, and social transformations, shaping a rationality that came to guide public education policies. The results show that, although Brazil and Chile have followed distinct historical trajectories, both countries have expanded private-sector participation in the provision of higher education under the influence of neoliberal reforms. We conclude that this process reinforces the commodification of higher education and contributes to reshaping professional training in line with the demands of capital accumulation, thereby broadening our understanding of the contemporary challenges facing higher education in Latin America.