Description
Book SynopsisChronicles the history of Indigenous political activism in Ecuador, from the creation of the local agricultural syndicates in the 1920s through the protests of 1990. This book reveals the central role of women in Indigenous movements and the history of productive collaborations between rural Indigenous activists and urban leftist intellectuals.
Trade Review“In this timely contribution to Latin American history and the study of Indigenous South Americans, Marc Becker documents the long history of Indigenous political activism in Ecuador, reminding us that current events never spring into existence without historical precedent. The impressive amount of new documentary evidence he provides makes this a book that will be immediately read and discussed, and then debated for years to come.”—
Mary Weismantel, author of
Cholas and Pishtacos: Stories of Race and Sex in the Andes“
Indians and Leftists in the Making of Ecuador’s Modern Indigenous Movements corrects numerous misconceptions about indigenous movements in Ecuador that are likely to be relevant to understanding experiences in neighboring countries. It is the most comprehensive and insightful narrative available of the development of relations between an important indigenous movement and the political left. The book also fills a gap in our understanding of the historic role of indigenous women in the success of indigenous mobilisations in Ecuador.” -- Donna Lee Van Cott * Journal of Latin American Studies *
“Becker provides a detailed history of indigenous political organization back to the early twentieth century and documents the complex, two-way relationship between indigenous leaders and the national left.” -- John A. Peeler * Latin American Research Review *
“Scholars from diverse disciplines will appreciate the book’s vivid attention to individual activists as well as its broad scope. . . .
Indians and Leftists provides an important new perspective on this history by revealing crucial connections between rural indigenous movements and the urban left.” -- Laura Gotkowitz * Hispanic American Historical Review *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix
Chronology xiii
Acronyms xxiii
1. What Is an Indian? 1
2. Socialism 17
3. Strike! 50
4. Federacion Ecuatoriana de Indios 77
5. Guachala 105
6. Agrarian ReforM? 123
7. Return of the Indian 144
8. Pachakutik 166
Notes 195
Glossary 251
Biographies 255
Bibliography 261
Index 293
