Ethimology
Buen Vivir comes form the terms 'Sumak kawsay' in Quechua, a term for "good life" or "plentiful life," an ancestral philosophy from the Andes and Amazon that emphasizes living in harmony with nature, community, and cultural practices to achieve a dignified, balanced, and spiritual existence. It contrasts with Western development models by prioritizing collective well-being, reciprocity with the environment, and the sustenance of traditional knowledge.
And form "Suma qamaña" an Andean concept that translates as "Good Living" or "Living Well," representing a way of life in harmony and balance, not only with people but also with nature. It is based on principles such as complementarity, reciprocity, and awareness of being part of a whole, seeking a full and satisfying life for all beings.
Abstract
Buen Vivir is a concept rooted in the worldviews of the indigenous peoples of Abya-Yala, which proposes a way of life based on harmony, balance, and relationality between people, communities, other living beings, and nature, prioritizing the reproduction of life over the accumulation of capital. It is not a single model, but a plurality of "good coexistences" that integrate reciprocity, complementarity, and solidarity, inspired by diverse global community traditions (such as ubuntu, swaraj, or conviviality). Faced with the crisis of "progress" and "development," it proposes post-developmentalist alternatives that decolonize knowledge, reject extractivism, and build supportive, diverse, and sustainable societies from within communities. It involves rethinking the economy, politics, and culture in community terms, with an ethic of sufficiency, recognizing that transitions must be brought about from below in order to open up a civilizational horizon beyond capitalism.