Contesting Citizenship In Latin America: The Ri... Apr 2026

: A "crack" in the state’s control allowed them the freedom to gather and form significant political organizations without being immediately crushed.

: The villagers already had deep, pre-existing connections through the Church or previous unions. These networks allowed them to organize quickly.

The book by Deborah J. Yashar explores why indigenous movements suddenly surged in late 20th-century Latin America. Contesting Citizenship in Latin America: The Ri...

Here is a helpful story to illustrate the book's core arguments: The Story of the Changing Village

is available at retailers like Barnes & Noble and Strand Book Store . : A "crack" in the state’s control allowed

In contrast, villages in places like might have had the same grievances, but they lacked the strong social networks or the political space to turn their frustration into a national movement. The "Postliberal Challenge"

Imagine a village where, for decades, the people were recognized by the government strictly as Under this "corporatist" regime, they received land and social services not because they were indigenous, but because they were part of a state-sanctioned agricultural union. In this world, their ethnic identity was private; their political life was tied to their work. The book by Deborah J

The story doesn't end with a protest. These movements are now posing a . They are asking the state: "Can you be a democracy if you only recognize individuals, or must you also recognize our collective rights and autonomy as indigenous peoples?" .