Struggle for Indigenous Rights in Latin America

This book examines the struggle for indigenous rights in eight Latin American countries. Initial studies of indigenous movements celebrated the return of the Indians as relevant political actors, often approaching their struggles as expressions of a common, generic agenda. This collection moves the debate forward by acknowledging the extraordinary diversity among the movements' composition, goals, and strategies. The case studies examine the ways in which the Indian question arises in each country, with reference to the protagonism of indigenous movements in the context of the threats and opportunities posed by neoliberal policies. The complexities posed by the varying demographic weight of indigenous populations, the interrelation of class and ethnicity, and the interplay between indigenous and popular struggles are discussed. The volume concludes that the Indian struggles are having a direct impact on the character of democracy, and in the process contribute to the redefinition of Latin American societies as multicultural.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Acknowledgements; A Note on Transliteration; Introduction: Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Education; Birthdays -- A Spectrum of Difference; Young Hindus and Vegetarianism; The Diversity of Experience within a Faith Tradition; Festivals -- Schools' Involvement in Tradition'; Belief and Practice -- God and Holy Water; Tradition and Choice -- What Young Hindus Believe; Caste, Hindus and Sikhs; British, Asian and Hindu -- Multiple Identities; Spirituality and Religious Experience; Ethnography as Reflective Practice; Appendix: Practical Guidelines for Teachers -- Cultural Diversity and the School; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author :
Nancy Grey Postero Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, San Diego. Leon Zamosc Associate Professor of Sociology and the Associate Director of Latin American Studies at the University of California, San Diego.

Review :
"This work compares the ways in which indigenous peoples in Latin America have organized locally, regionally, and nationally to open up new political spaces since the 1980s. Avoiding the homogenisation of indigenous struggles, the book emphasizes the different paths to rights that indigenous peoples have found in different national contexts. At the same time, it analyzes common processes of ethnification, environmental and land struggles, indigenous involvement in national politics, and indigenous responses to neoliberal and multicultural state policies. What particularly distinguishes this book is its attention not only to indigenous ethnicity but also to the consequences of neoliberalism and the processes of class formation and reformation that have shaped the contexts for the flourishing of indigenous movements. A must read for anyone interested in Latin America and a very useful overview for students." -- Lynn Stephen, Distinguished Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon. "Indigenous movements have become major social and political actors in Latin America, posing radical challenges to the extant model of the nation-state and notions of democracy and development. Bringing together in-depth studies of the Indian Question in seven Latin American countries, this book reveals the diversity of contexts in which indigenous movements emerge and develop their strategies. Highlighting this diversity through up-to-date analyses, it provides a welcome and timely contribution to the study of indigenous struggles, citizenship, democracy and development." -- Willem Assies, Colegio de Michoacan, Mexico. "Several recent edited volumes have explored contemporary issues in Latin America. This volume, which evolved from seminars at the University of California, San Diego and Cochabamba, Bolivia, improves on those in terms of the breadth of geographic and thematic coverage and the internal coherence of the essays. ...The essays provide a quick historical context, but they are written at a sophisticated level and emphasize deeper issues, including indigenous challenges to neoliberal economic policies and participation in electoral politics. The volume argues that in places where indigenous peoples are in the majority, they are demanding equality and participation rather than just autonomy and recognition. The editors' introduction provides valuable conceptual tools for understanding indigenous struggles, their diverse goals, and the ways in which their contexts are shaped by complex interactions between demographic factors, class consciousness, and ethnic identification. Recommended." -- Choice.