1. The Cultural Roots of Latin American Populism Views from History and Nature
Cynthia Radding
University of New Mexico
Santa Fe Council on International Relations
February 3, 2007

2. Foundations of Populism
Mass electoral politics and universal suffrage
Appeal to social and economic issues
Sovereignty of the nation-state
National control of natural resources

3. Roots and Content of Populism
Class-based movements with different social groups
Indigenous movements, culture, and politics of identity
Politics in the street: marches, manifestations, and roadblocks
New understandings of citizenship: rights and obligations

4. Class-based Movements
Neo-liberal policies
Structural adjustment
Eroding standards of living
Reduced social services

5. Maize and Global Markets
Ethanol and world demand for industrial uses of maize
Rising prices for Mexican consumers
Importation of corn
Subsidies to raise production
NAFTA and peasant agriculture

6. Ecuador: “our America”
President Rafael Correa, inaugural speech
Foreign debt service renegotiation
Demands to meet basic social services
Integration of Latin America

7. Indigenous Movements Challenges to traditional national constitutions
Demands for political recognition, territory, cultural dignity
Responses to globalization

8. Regional Indigenous Politics
Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional
Chiapas, Mexico
Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca
Oaxaca, Mexico
Maya of Guatemala
Shuar confederation of the Amazon
Ecuador
Andean mobilizations
Quechua
Aymara
Quichua
Mapuche, Chile

9. Politics in Public Spaces
Inclusion and autonomy
Territorial spaces
Cultural distinctiveness
Autonomous communities in Chiapas
Language preservation
Tzotzil
Mixtec
Zapotec

10. Citizenship New political actors Internal indigenous movements
Migrant populations
New claims to suffrage
Paisanos in Mexico
Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly

11. Citizenship in Historical Perspective
Colonial Institutions
Derecho indiano
Republic of Indians
Republic of Spaniards
Vecinos
Cabildo
Town Council

12. Transition to Republics
Monarchy to national sovereignty
Local custom and codified law
Spanish Cortes in Cádiz
Constitutions of 1812, 1820

13. Latin American Independence
Constitutional Assemblies
Chilpancingo, Mexico
Tucumán, Argentina
Central debates
Indians and citizenship
Cabildos and legislatures
Elections and office holding
Orozco, La Trinchera

14. Northwest Mexico Village councils Integrity of local government
Indian Groups
Yaqui
Opata
Pima

15. Chiquitos, Eastern Bolivia
Mission towns and cantones
Indian caciques and local elections
Endurance of the cabildo in Chiquitos

16. Nature and Environment
Resources
Commodities or collective patrimony?
Water, streams, wells
Forests and logging
Minerals
Oil and natural gas

17. Human Rights and Populism
Freedom from detention
Security of life and home
Right to food, housing, health care
Access to education
Freedom of movement
Right to work and a living wage

18. Collaborative Research and Service
Language revitalization
Local histories
Community traditions
Populism at work

19. Community Environmental Management
Resource use
Monitoring air, soil, and water quality
Waste disposal
Local knowledge and decision-making
Accountability

20. Sources of Information
University of New Mexico
Latin America and Iberian Institute
Latin America Database
University of Texas
LANIC
Espadaña Press
SPIN México Ilustrado
Photographs by the author