Latin America's Indigenous Peoples
In: Journal of democracy, Band 18, Heft 4, S. 127-141
ISSN: 1045-5736
This article discusses the recent political mobilization & consequent incorporation of indigenous peoples in Latin America as a key influence shaping the quality of democracy. Indigenous peoples comprise some 11% of Latin America's total population of 540 million. Their inclusion in society denotes the opening of the political system to previously excluded & vulnerable sectors of the population. However, this change has also challenged the new & fragile liberal-democratic regimes & generated social & institutional conflicts within society. The discussion first focuses on the history of these indigenous peoples & their eventual incorporation into their respective societies & then addresses what the future holds for them & democracy in Latin America. Tables. J. Stanton