Supplementary Readings Citizenship and Rights in the New Republics

Document

 Empowering Women: Land and Property Rights in Latin America

 Carmen Diana Deere, Magdalena León de Leal

Page 6 paragraph 2

This excerpt discusses specifically the rise of feminism and indigenous movements in Latin America during the later decades of the twentieth century. The authors main goal is to discuss the rights of women specifically tied to property rights. Earlier in the text the authors compare the older systems of property rights established during colonial rule in the Americas. Women had fewer rights and men held the majority of power and property. The authors using what little data is available determine as best as they can that women though doing a large amount of work in society and being roughly half the population own roughly one percent of the total resources. This disparity in property ownership is tied directly to the limits that women have in regard to rights. The authors also mention how in the wave of indigenous protests in the later part of the twentieth century caused many to think in how the two, women’s rights and indigenous rights. Indigenous people campaigned for access to traditional lands and communal ownership of these lands. It is debated whether these indigenous campaigns could help or hinder women’s property rights.

            I selected this source because it highlights two groups both campaigning for rights in Latin America but with somewhat separate goals and ideals. The feminist group is looking to mainly advocate for and secure stronger property rights for women in Latin America. The indigenous rights groups are advocating mainly for access to their traditional lands and communal ownership of said lands. These two goals are not necessarily mutually achievable. Many tribal groups may not recognize ownership of property by women, and private ownership of land (male or female ownership) goes contrary to the communal ownership goal of many indigenous groups. This text does not specifically relate to the years of the Latin American republics directly post –independence. However I chose to include it because it brings us to the point that even today rights have not been completely established for all. The modern world today can be said to have greater rights for all than in previous times. However there are still many groups who feel (rightfully so) that their rights (traditional and otherwise) are not being respected and enforced. Within the group of people whose rights are marginalized or limited there is not necessarily an overarching or coherent demand/manifesto. This text though mainly focused on women does bring up the apparent conflict between women’s groups and indigenous groups. This allows us to look at a situation where two groups both being marginalized may not have exactly the same goals though on the surface it may appear so.

Document

Trials of Nation Making

Brooke Larson

Page 141

This section of the book focuses on indigenous rebellions and discontent in Peru during the post-colonial era. It focuses on the “Indian Question’, how the creole elites of the nation dealt with the indigenous peoples in Peru after independence. Under Spanish rule indigenous peoples were granted certain rights. They did have to pay tribute and there were many laws governing their existence. However they were guaranteed basic rights such as somewhat autonomous rule and communal property rights. A somewhat dubious exchange of tribute for various guaranteed rights. For this reason many indigenous leaders and others were not completely supportive of the independence movements of the time. Many of these movements were led by creole elites who did not necessarily have the best interests of the natives constantly in mind. Post-independence Latin America in general and in this case Peru still continued to have problems with indigenous rebellions and insurrection. Once independence for the new republics had been won many reforms were instituted. These reforms split land out among the people and declared an end to the indian tribute system. These reforms were Bolivarian in nature and did not often take into account communal land ownership by indigenous peoples and their traditional practices. Many of these reforms were later removed or changed over the next decades.

            These examples of the conflicts within the new republics are an excellent way to examine the state of rights given to the various peoples within them. It highlights the conflicts within the new republics especially in regards to the native populations. Under colonial rule these indigenous peoples were granted certain rights guaranteed by the Spanish Crown. These rights consisted of things such as communal land ownership and autonomous local rule along tribal traditions. The main drivers for independence came as a result of the desires of the creole elites and not necessarily those of native peoples. Once independence had been accomplished those in power were generally the upper class creoles who lived in the largely urban areas. Many were inspired by the ideals of Simon Bolivar and wanted to create a utopian Bolivarian Republic. However many reforms actually ended up restricting and changing the rights of many indigenous people. These indigenous people before held their own lands (to an extent) and ruled themselves, once considered citizens of the new republics their rights changed and in many ways were lessened. Land was now divided up among people and communal land rights were no longer accepted/allowed. These indigenous peoples ended being put on the bottom on the hierarchy of society and were considered lesser peoples. This caused much resentment and may have led to many of the future rebellions and dissent in the Americas. This text focuses largely on the indigenous peoples of Peru however many other nations had issues with African descended peoples. Also the new republics struggled in relation to woman’s rights throughout the decades post independence.