Pacha Mama Politics Indigenous Environmental Discourse in Contemporary Ecuador

Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Johnson, Robert

Keywords

Equador, Indigenous Politics, Environmentalism

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies

Abstract

This thesis examines the relationship between indigenous identity and environmentalist discourse in the case of Ecuador's indigenous movement. The first chapter situates contemporary politics with a historical overview of indigenous marginalization and resistance in Ecuador. The second chapter analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of environmental identity politics as practiced by indigenous groups. The third chapter shows how the evolving language on indigenousness and environmental protection manifests itself in the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador. This thesis argues that the document's incorporation of indigenous-crafted alternatives to western discourses of nationality, nature, and development signified a reshaping of national values that better reflects the priorities of Ecuador's indigenous peoples. Engagement with the state through participatory constitutional revision provided a new opportunity for the indigenous movement to challenge the persistence of colonial cultural and political subjugation. The policy impact of the new Constitution is as yet uncertain given the volatility of the relationship between the current government and indigenous organizations.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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