Description
Book SynopsisThe efforts of Indians in Latin America have gained momentum and garnered increasing attention in the last decade as they claim rights to their land and demand full participation in the political process. This issue is of rising importance as ecological concerns and autochtonous movements gain a foothold in Latin America, transforming the political landscape into one in which multiethnic democracies hold sway. In some cases, these movements have led to violent outbursts that severely affected some nations, such as the 1992 and 1994 Indian uprisings in Ecuador. In most cases, however, grassroots efforts have realized success without bloodshed. An Aymara Indian, head of an indigenous-rights political party, became Vice President of Bolivia. Brazilian lands are being set aside for indigenous groups not as traditional reservations where the government attempts to civilize the hunters and gatherers, but where the government serves only to keep loggers, gold miners, and other interlopers out
Trade ReviewProfessor Langer is to be commended for assembling such an outstanding volume of essays on one of the most important topics in Latin American studies today. Highly recommended, both for generalists wishing to better understand these recent developments and for classroom adoption in courses on anthropology, political science, and race and ethnicity in Latin America. -- Marc Becker, Truman State University
The articles [in this work] share a consistent thread that renders the collection not only remarkably coherent for an edited collection of this breadth, but also an enjoyable and informative read. Overall, Langer and Muñoz have presented a volume that deserves to be read by every researcher who is serious about contemporary indigenous movement sin the Latin American region. * Canadian Review of Studies in Nationalism *
This timely collection of articles, some previously published, some coming to press for the first time, reflects the sustained importance of indigenous movements in Latin America. Erick Langer has paid particular attention to covering a wide range of indigenous movements while making his task (and the task of the reader) one of comparison. Key themes emerge as common threads throughout the collection, such as indigenous peoples and the state, territoriality, resistance and rebellion, and identity politics. The strength here lies not just in the ethnographic richness of the material presented, but also in the attention paid to the historical roots of these movements. Contemporary Indigenous Movements in Latin America is sure to attract a readership well beyond those interested in this topic, as the theoretical issues addressed here are relevant to all students of social movements, state-minority relationships, and ethnic politics. -- Patrick C. Wilson, University of Pittsburgh
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Part 2 I In the Defense of Land Chapter 3 Neither Warriors nor Victims: The Wauja Peacefully Organize to Defend Their Land Chapter 4 Ethnodevelopment and Democratic Consolidation in Chile: The Mapuche Question Part 5 II Indigenous Political Participation Chapter 6 Agrarian Protest and the Indian Movement in the Ecuadorian Highlands Chapter 7 Indians and National Salvation: Placing Ecuador's Indigenous Coup of January 2000 in Historical Perspective Chapter 8 The Emergence of Political Organizations among the Guaraní Indians of Bolivia and Argentina: A Comparative Perspective Chapter 9 Consciousness and Contradiction: Indigenous Peoples and Paraguay's Transition to Democracy Part 10 III Indians and Guerrillas Chapter 11 Villagers at Arms: War and Counterrevolution in the Central-South Andes Chapter 12 Pan-Maya Activism in Guatemala Part 13 IV Indigenous Leaders Speak Out Chapter 14 Marta Silva Vito Guaraní (Brazil) Chapter 15 Davi Kopenawa Yanomami (Brazil) Chapter 16 Luis Macas (Ecuador) Chapter 17 Nina Pacari (Ecuador) Chapter 18 Felipe Quispe Huanca (Bolivia) Chapter 19 R. Marhikewun (Chile) Chapter 20 Slected Bibliography Chapter 21 Internet Sources
