Throughout the Americas, indigenous peoples are actively involved in negotiating their ethnic identities. The processes of defining and redefining these identities take place against national backdrops of individual Latin American countries, and these settings co-determine the specific emphases placed in these processes. These cultural movements are often perceived in the national contexts and on the international forum as ranging from ‘political movements’ and ‘indigenous activism’ to ‘militant or even terrorist groupings’. This spectrum in opinions underscores the active debate in which many contemporary Amerindian societies are currently being situated or situating themselves. Representation and self-representation will be recurring themes in this course, which will emphasize the increasing role that Amerindian societies claim in their respective Latin American nations.
This course provides an overview of contemporary social, cultural, political and developmental issues of the native peoples of the Americas. Students will focus on the situation of the area they are studying for their thesis, carry out research (library, Internet etc). and write a paper with an in-depth analysis.
Timetable
Method of Instruction
Seminar
Course objectives
Create an overview of Amerindian movements currently present in Latin America
Gain insight in the overarching backgrounds and raison d’être for these movements
Establish socio-cultural positionality of Amerindian societies in Latin American nation-states
Required reading
Matías, Luis (2007) Repression and Rebellions in Southern Mexico. The search for a political economy of dignity. Thela Latin American Series, Amsterdam.
Examination
Paper (3000 words) on the issues and conflicts in which indigenous peoples of a specific region in the Americas (preferably the region of their thesis research) are involved. Analysis of causes and developments, using Matías’ book as point of departure for the general reflection. Use recent information and original reports, e.g. on the Internet, as well as the observations made during the lectures and discussions.
Information
Prof. dr. M. Jansen (m.e.r.g.n.jansen@arch.leidenuniv.nl)