Latin America's Multicultural Movements: The Struggle Between Communitarianism, Autonomy, and Human Rights

Latin America's Multicultural Movements is a collection of empirically-based chapters that advance debates over the struggle between communitarianism, autonomy, and human rights. Assembling some of the most eminent scholars of Latin America, it presents an impressive range of views on multiculturalism. In doing so it moves beyond ideology and invites readers to explore how multicultural reforms affect people in their everyday lives, as well as in political parties, elected offices, and interest groups. It examines multicultural rights recognition in theory and in practice, multicultural and autonomy movements in the Andes and in Mexico, and concludes by looking at the controversial role of the state regarding multicultural rights.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: Reconciling Liberal Pluralism and Group Rights: A Comparative Perspective on the "Oaxaca Experiment" in Multiculturalism - Todd A. Eisenstadt 1) Ambivalent Multiculturalisms: Perversity, Futility and Jeopardy in Latin America - José Antonio Lucero 2) Constitutional Multiculturalism in Chiapas and Beyond: Hollow Reforms to Nullify Autonomy Rights - Araceli Burguete Cal y Mayor (translated by Drew McKelvey). MULTICULTURAL AND AUTONOMY MOVEMENTS IN THE ANDES 3) Uses of Autonomy: The Evolution of Multicultural Discourse in Bolivian Politics - Erik Cooke 4) Bolivia's New Multicultural Constitution: The 2009 Constitution in Historical and Comparative Perspective - Miguel Centellas 5) The Crisis of the Indigenous Movement and the Ambiguities in Indigenous Rights in Ecuador in the 21st Century - Carmen Martínez Novo MULTICULTURAL AND AUTONOMY MOVEMENTS IN OAXACA, MEXICO 6) What We Need are New Customs: Multiculturality, Autonomy and Citizenship in Mexico and the Lessons of Oaxaca - Víctor Leonel Juan Martínez (translated by Michael S. Danielson) 7) Political Subsystems in Oaxaca's Usos y Costumbres Municipalities: An Analysis of the Civil-Religious Service Background of Mayors - Carlos Sorroza Polo and Michael S. Danielson (translated by Drew McKelvy) 8) Community Strength and Customary Law: Explaining Migrant Participation in Indigenous Oaxaca - Michael S. Danielson THE STATE AND MULTICULTURAL RIGHTS: ENABLER OR MENACE? 9) Multicultural Reforms for Mexico's 'Tranquil' Indians in Yucatán - Shannan Mattiace 10) Balancing Tensions Between Communitarian and Individual Rights and the Challenges These Present for Multicultural States - Willibald Sonnleitner and Todd Eisenstadt

About the Author :
Todd A. Eisenstadt is Professor of Government at American University. Michael S. Danielson is a comparative politics PhD candidate at American University. Moisés Jaime Bailón Corres is Professor and Researcher at Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca. Carlos Sorroza Polo is Professor and Researcher in the Institute for Sociological Research at Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca.

Review :
"This book offers an insightful analysis of recent reforms in Latin America that have expanded the state's recognition of multicultural rights, customary law and indigenous autonomy. While these reforms are often studied in isolation, the editors adopt a more ambitious research design, bringing together scholars who have examined similar reforms in the two different parts of Latin America where multicultural policies have gone the furthest: Mexico and the Central Andes. Based on original research at the sub-municipal, municipal and national levels in these two regions, the volume offers compelling answers to some of the most important questions posed by multicultural reforms."--Kent Eaton, Professor of Politics, University of California-Santa Cruz "The authors in this volume ask penetrating questions about the nature of indigenous autonomy movements in Latin America while avoiding idealized rhetoric and oversimplification. The book's comparative framework and clear commitment to bringing empirical case knowledge to bear on important normative debates represent an innovative approach that helps to deepen our understanding of the complex political reality that is lived by millions of Latin America's indigenous citizens."--Matthew Cleary, Associate Professor, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University