Eksploatacija

Eksploatacija is a term used in many South Slavic languages to denote the act or process of exploiting something or someone. In everyday usage it can refer to the exploitation of labor, resources, or markets, and in academic contexts it often carries a critical connotation.

In economic and social theory, eksploatacija is frequently discussed as the extraction of value from workers or communities by those who control capital, production, or governance. In Marxist analysis, it is linked to the concept of surplus value, where the value produced by workers exceeds the wages they receive, enabling owners to accumulate profits. The term is also applied to the extraction of natural resources or land, where benefits accrue to outsiders or distant interests at the expense of local populations or ecosystems.

Historically, eksploatacija has been used to describe colonial and neocolonial relations, where metropolitan powers exploited colonies for raw materials, labor, and strategic advantages. In contemporary debates, it covers global supply chains, precarious labor, and environmental degradation, highlighting ethical concerns about fairness, consent, sovereignty, and long-term sustainability.

Critics argue that exploitation occurs when the benefits of production are disproportionately concentrated, or when coercive or exploitative conditions undermine workers’ rights and communities’ well-being. Proponents may distinguish between legitimate procurement for production and abusive exploitation, though definitions and thresholds vary across disciplines.

Related concepts include exploitation of labor, surplus value, imperialism, resource extraction, and commodification. The term is used across economics, sociology, development studies, and political economy to analyze power relations, justice, and the impacts of production on people and environments.