The efforts of Indians in Latin America have gained momentum and garnered increasing attention in the last decade as they claim rights to their land and demand full participation in the political process. This issue is of rising importance as ecological concerns and autochtonous movements gain a foothold in Latin America, transforming the political landscape into one in which multiethnic democracies hold sway. In some cases, these movements have led to violent outbursts that severely affected some nations, such as the 1992 and 1994 Indian uprisings in Ecuador. In most cases, however, grassroots efforts have realized success without bloodshed. An Aymara Indian, head of an indigenous-rights political party, became Vice President of Bolivia. Brazilian lands are being set aside for indigenous groups not as traditional reservations where the government attempts to "civilize" the hunters and gatherers, but where the government serves only to keep loggers, gold miners, and other interlopers out of tribal lands. Contemporary Indigenous Movements in Latin America is a collection of essays compiled by Professor Erick D. Langer that brings together-for the first time-contributions on indigenous movements throughout Latin America from all regions. Focusing on the 1990s, Professor Langer illustrates the range and increasing significance of the Indian movements in Latin America. The volume addresses the ways in which Indians have confronted the political, social, and economic problems they face today, and shows the diversity of the movements, both in lowlands and in highlands, tribal peoples, and peasants. The book presents an analytical overview of these movements, as well as a vision of how and why they have become so important in the late twentieth century. Contemporary Indigenous Movements in Latin America is important for those interested in Latin American studies, including Latin American civilization, Latin American anthropology, contemporary issues in Latin America, and ethnic studies.

About the Author
Erick D. Langer is professor of history in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Elena Munoz works for the International Rescue Committee in New York City and is a student at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.

Reviews
Professor Langer is to be commended for assembling such an outstanding volume of essays on one of the most important topics in Latin American studies today. Highly recommended, both for generalists wishing to better understand these recent developments and for classroom adoption in courses on anthropology, political science, and race and ethnicity in Latin America. -- Marc Becker, Truman State University
The articles [in this work] share a consistent thread that renders the collection not only remarkably coherent for an edited collection of this breadth, but also an enjoyable and informative read. Overall, Langer and Munoz have presented a volume that deserves to be read by every researcher who is serious about contemporary indigenous movement sin the Latin American region. * Canadian Review of Studies in Nationalism *
This timely collection of articles, some previously published, some coming to press for the first time, reflects the sustained importance of indigenous movements in Latin America. Erick Langer has paid particular attention to covering a wide range of indigenous movements while making his task (and the task of the reader) one of comparison. Key themes emerge as common threads throughout the collection, such as indigenous peoples and the state, territoriality, resistance and rebellion, and identity politics. The strength here lies not just in the ethnographic richness of the material presented, but also in the attention paid to the historical roots of these movements. Contemporary Indigenous Movements in Latin America is sure to attract a readership well beyond those interested in this topic, as the theoretical issues addressed here are relevant to all students of social movements, state-minority relationships, and ethnic politics. -- Patrick C. Wilson, University of Pittsburgh



Book Information
ISBN 9780842026802
Author Erick D. Langer
Format Paperback
Page Count 220
Imprint Rowman & Littlefield
Publisher Rowman & Littlefield
Weight(grams) 413g
Dimensions(mm) 232mm * 162mm * 16mm