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Multicultural Market Democracy: Elites and Indigenous Movements in Contemporary Ecuador

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2011

JAMES D. BOWEN
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Abstract

This paper bridges the gap between studies of subaltern social movements and elite politics by asking how political and economic elites respond to indigenous mobilisation in Ecuador. I argue that elites have developed a hegemonic project based around three core principles – multiculturalism, economic liberalism and democracy – that serves to incorporate indigenous peoples into the political system while simultaneously excluding indigenous movement demands that would undermine the political and economic sources of elite power. The paper develops this argument around a concept of what I call ‘multicultural market democracy’ based on historical analysis and in-depth interviews with 43 Ecuadorian elites.

Spanish abstract

Este artículo conecta los estudios de los movimientos sociales subalternos y los de las políticas de las elites al preguntarse cómo las elites políticas y económicas responden a las movilizaciones indígenas en Ecuador. Yo sostengo que las elites han desarrollado un proyecto hegemónico basado alrededor de tres conceptos principales: multiculturalismo, liberalismo económico y democracia. Tales principios sirven para incorporar a los pueblos indígenas dentro del sistema político, mientras que al mismo tiempo excluyen las demandas de los movimientos indígenas que debilitarían las fuentes políticas y económicas del poder de las élites. El artículo desarrolla este argumento alrededor de un concepto que llamo ‘democracia multicultural de mercado’ basado en el análisis histórico y entrevistas a profundidad a 43 representantes de las élites ecuatorianas.

Portuguese abstract

Ao perguntar como as elites políticas e econômicas reagem à mobilização indígena no Equador, o artigo preenche a lacuna que existe entre os estudos sobre movimentos sociais subalternos e os estudos acerca das políticas das elites. Argumento que as elites desenvolveram um projeto hegemônico baseado em três princípios fundamentais, sendo estes o multiculturalismo, o liberalismo econômico e a democracia, que servem para incorporar os povos indígenas ao sistema político enquanto excluem as demandas dos movimentos indígenas (que minariam as fontes de poder políticas e econômicas das elites). O argumento é desenvolvido em torno de um conceito que chamo de ‘democracia multicultural de mercado’, fundamentado por análise histórica e entrevistas abrangentes com 43 membros da elite equatoriana.

Keywords

elitesindigenous movementsCONAIEEcuadormulticulturalismpolitical incorporationelitesmovimientos indígenasCONAIEEcuadormulticulturalismoincorporación políticaelitesmovimentos indígenasCONAIEEquadormulticulturalismoincorporação política
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Latin American Studies , Volume 43 , Issue 3 , August 2011 , pp. 451 - 483
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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