Between street and institutions: the dynamics and political strategies of the indigenous movement in Ecuador

Abstract

Ecuadorian’s indigenous movement has been considered the strongest in Latin America. Unlike other countries, their bases and communities got organised in a large national confederation (CONAIE). In the1990s, they appeared to be a political earthquake in the country (Pajuelo, Reinventando comunidades imaginadas: movimientos indígenas, nación y procesos sociopolíticos en los países centroandinos. Instituto de Estudios peruanos, 2007). They led the first indigenous uprisings in the region (1990–1992), obtained electoral representation (Pachakutik), introduced collective rights in Constitution (1997–1998), deposed two presidents (Bucaram, 1997; Mahuad, 2000) and participated in national government (Lucio Guitérrez, 2003). However, contrary to what might be expected, indigenous movement is today a marginal actor in the Ecuadorian political scene. What has happened in the last years? This chapter analyses the main events that have caused this gap between expectations and reality, using the process tracing method to reconstruct the causal sequence. From a theoretical perspective of path dependence, three dimensions are investigated: the political relationship of the movement with other actors, collective action and influence on power. The main hypothesis is that the movement loses importance due to the lack of political space and social support, internal tensions with ideological and organisational crises, and the control of the state of indigenous communities and institutions.