Abstract

GOMEZ SUAREZ, Águeda. Ethnic Mobilizations and Political Opportunities in Latin America. Nueva antropol [online]. 2003, vol.19, n.63, pp.71-90. ISSN 0185-0636.

This article analyzes the structure of political opportunity that has allowed for and favored the construction of indigenous political mobilizations in Latin America over the past two decades. It explores whether these mobilizations have simply had their origin in the traditional "uses and customs" of the communities, or whether they are the result of a different series of contextual variables that have favored the design of these political claims in this concrete historical moment. In order to do this, the historical context of these indigenous mobilizations, built over the past two decades, is studied through the methodological application of the "structure of political opportunity" theoretical model. Various indicators are taken into account, designated by theoreticians of this model, such as the degree of relative aperture of the institutionalized international political system, the level of instability of alliances among the elites, the presence or absence of allies of the indigenous movements that are in power, the capacity of the State for repression and the state's tendency towards the implementation of public policies. Finally, it analyzes the "structure of ideological opportunity" that exists in the construction and legitimation of indigenist discourses.

Keywords : indigenous movements; political system; ideology; legislation.

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