This chapter examines the political and economic foundations of Chile’s extractive development model, analysing how legal, institutional, and macroeconomic structures have entrenched natural resource exploitation as a central pillar of national growth. It traces the historical evolution of extractivism, focusing on its consolidation under the Pinochet dictatorship and its continuity through successive democratic governments. The chapter unpacks how constitutional entrenchment, foreign direct investment incentives, and trade liberalisation policies have facilitated the dominance of mining, forestry, and fisheries industries, often at the expense of environmental and community rights. It also explores the role of state institutions, private actors, and international financial mechanisms in reinforcing extractive governance, creating a legal and political environment that favours corporate interests over democratic participation. By linking extractivism to broader neoliberal transformations and authoritarian legacies, the chapter provides a structural context for understanding the constraints faced by communities engaging in legal mobilisation. It sets the stage for analysing how resistance movements emerge and operate within this tightly controlled economic and regulatory landscape.