Indigenous Political Representation in Latin America (Latin American Societies)

✍ Scribed by Adrian Albala (editor), Alejandro Natal (editor)

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2023
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 261
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book presents a comparative analysis of the struggles of Latin American indigenous peoples for effective representation in national political systems in the region. Through a detailed exploration of the political dynamics of indigenous groups and examples of mechanisms of political representation, the studies in this book reveal how power relations, cleavages and indigenous civil society organizations are essential to our understanding of indigenous political participation. These studies closely inspect how collective action builds up at local level in grassroots organizations, and how it then articulates or not with larger mechanisms of regional and national political representation, providing a more comprehensive and comparative assessment of why and when representation works and fails for indigenous people.

This contributed volume is organized around one general and comparative chapter on indigenous political representation in Latin America followed by eight case studies, divided into three main groups. The first group includes cases with a more inclusive political environment, such as Bolivia, Ecuador and Guatemala. The second group brings together cases with certain representation and/or active indigenous elites: Colombia, Mexico, and Paraguay. Tthe third group presents outlier cases with potential indigenous issues: Peru and Chile. Finally, the last chapter brings together reflections on how mechanisms for effective political representation can be improved and how indigenous organizations can be fostered to ensure effective political representation.

Indigenous Political Representation in Latin America will be of interest to political scientists, sociologists and anthropologists studying both indigenous collective action and political representation by presenting a discussion on how to structure representation mechanisms capable of politically integrate the ethnic diversity of Latin American countries in order to build a multicultural citizenship. It will also help policy makers and activists by discussing the successes and failures of effective indigenous political representation in Latin America.

✦ Table of Contents

Preface
Relevance of This Book
Research Questions and General Content
Case Selection and Book Organization
Contents
Chapter 1: Indigenous Political Representation in Latin America: An Overview
Ethnic Cleavages and Politicization of Identities: The Basis of Indigenous Representation
Ethnic Parties in Latin America
Ethnic Parties and the Institutional Environment
Cases Study Analysis
References
Chapter 2: Bolivia and the Second Stage of Indigenous Emergence in Latin America: Advances and Challenges
From Charcas to the National Revolution: A Quick Overview of Bolivia’s Indigenous Politics’ Constitutive Moments
The Revolution and the Indian World: Agrarian Reform, Campesino Unions and the Reemergence of Ethnic Identities
Indigenous Politics in Plurinational Times
Final Remarks: The Emergence of an Indigenous State?
References
Chapter 3: Between Street and Institutions: The Dynamics and Political Strategies of the Indigenous Movement in Ecuador
Introduction
Historical Background
Contemporary Context of the Country
Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Rights
Indigenous Political Representation: Parties and Ethnic Rifts
Movement Strategies: Institutional Representation Versus Social Protest
Conclusions
ANEXO: Index of Acronyms
References
Chapter 4: Indigenous Political Representation in Guatemala
Introduction
Antecedents: Spanish Colonial Rule, Oligarchy, and Civil War
Weak Official Multiculturalism, Inequality, and Discrimination
Representation
Electoral Representation Laws and Representation
Parties and Ethnic Cleavages
Forms of Political Participation
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Indigenous Political-Electoral Representation in Colombia (1990s–2020s): Stakes and Outcomes in Three Decades of Practice
Introduction
Antecedents: The 1991 Constitution: Pathway to a National Change
Context: The Indigenous Social Movement in Colombia, and Its Participation Within the National Constituent Assembly
Representation: From “Savages” to Political Representatives: Changes for Indigenous Peoples’ Status within a Multi-Ethnical and Pluricultural Nation
Electoral Representation Laws and Representation: New Tools, New Tasks
Parties and Ethnic Cleavages: Indigeneity, Nation-Building Project, and Electoral Challenges
Electoral Versus Alternative Representation Mechanisms: Multiplicity of the Indigenous Political Mechanisms of Representation
Final Thoughts
References
Chapter 6: Indigenous Political Representation in Mexico: Myths and Realities
Introduction
History
Confrontations with the State
Zapatismo
Understanding the Indigenous Universe of Mexico
Indigenous Representation
Usos y Costumbres
Electoral System
Local Barriers
Sociodemographic
Territorial Dispersion
Political Offer in the District
National Barriers
Discrimination, Social and Economic Exclusion
Political Parties
Conclusions
References
Official Documents
Periodistic Notes
Chapter 7: Participation and Political Representation of Indigenous Peoples in Paraguay: Numerous Pending Challenges
Introduction
Indigenous Peoples in Paraguay: General Aspects
Legal Framework on the Right to Indigenous Political Participation
Electoral Participation and Indigenous Political Representation
Legal and Institutional Obstacles
Undocumented Indigenous Population
Lack of Identification of Indigenous Origin of Voters and Candidates
Huge Requirements for the Formation of Political Parties
Absence of Affirmative Action Mechanisms and Differentiated Legislation
Conclusions
References
Chapter 8: Indigenous Representation in Chile
Introduction
Indigenous Peoples as Political Actors in Chile
Whom Are We Talking About? What Is the Problem?
Continuum, Denial and Violence
Seeking Political Representation
Institutional Representation
Elected Representation for Indigenous Peoples in Chile
Reserved Seats, Constitutional Convention and Awakening from a Plurinational Mirage
Final Considerations
References
Chapter 9: Indigenous Political Participation in Peru: A History of Racism, Exclusion, and Violence
Introduction
Historical Background: From the Colonization to the Coup d’état of 1968
Social Changes in the Recent Past: From the 1968 Process to the Internal Armed Conflict (1980–2000)
Political Changes, Social Conflict, and Ethnocultural Claims (1993-Present)
Conclusions and Final Reflection
References
Chapter 10: Conclusion: “The Indigenous Problem”
History of Social Exclusion in Latin America
Indigenous Politics
Self-Government
Participation as Civil Society
Participation as Social Movement
Indigenous Political Representation
Exogenous Factors that Limit Indigenous Participation and Representation: Barriers of Entry
Promising Experiences Explored
Future Challenges
Final Words
Reference
Index