Indigenous Movements and Their Critics [Hardcover]

Kay B. Warren (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 7, 1998

An examination of Maya intellectuals in national and community affairs in Guatemala. It presents an ethnographic account of Pan-Maya cultural activism through the voices, writings and actions of is participants. Challenging the view that indigenous movements emerge as isolated, politically unified fronts, the book shows that Pan-Mayanism reflects diverse local, national and international influences. It goes on to explore the movements attempts to interweave these varied strands into political programmes to promote human and cultural rights for Guatemala's indigenous majority, and also examines the movement's many domestic and foreign critics. The book focuses on Guatemala's peace process from 1987 to 1996, and examines a group of Mayanist antiracism activists to show what is at stake for them personally, and how they have worked to promote the revitalization of Maya language and culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Starting with an analysis of activism in one Mayan community, a Harvard anthropologist examines the role of indigenous intellectual and their influence in pormoting the rights of Guatemala's indigenous majority on local, national, and international levels. -- Kenneth Maxwell, Foreign Affairs
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Kay B. Warren is Professor of Anthropology at Harvard University, after many years at Princeton University. She authored The Symbolism of Subordination: Indian Identity in a Guatemala Town, coauthored Women of the Andes: Patriarchy and Social Change in Two Peruvian Towns, and edited The Violence Within: Cultural and Political Opposition in Divided Nations. A Spanish version of Indigenous Movements and Their Critics will be published by the Maya press Cholsamaj in Guatemala.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr (December 7, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691058814
• ISBN-13: 978-0691058818
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,916,994 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indigenous Movements, August 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Indigenous Movements and Their Critics (Paperback)

As a graduate studuent who has conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Guatemala, I found this book to very insightful. In my view, Kay Warren does a commendable job of addressing and discussing the politics of the Pan-Maya movement and its actions and arguments since the signing of the peace accords. Furthermore, she describes the role of the foreign anthropologist in the Maya culture and the critiques given by Pan-Maya activists towards the discipline of anthropology. For example, Warren relates the statements of the well-known Pan-Mayanist, Sam Colop (82). Warren concludes that the underlying question is; "What are you doing in Guatemala to benefit the Maya people?" This is particularly relevant to any social scientist, let alone those working in Guatemala.

Of particular interest is Warren's discussion on 'transforming selves'; the belief that certain individuals possess the capacity to physically transform themselves into an animal. She provides an excellent argument on why this belief resurfaced during the civil war, a period of extreme distrust. The bibliography is extensive and Warren's knowledge of critical theory, anthropology, history, Guatemalan (and, one might add, Peruvian) ethnography and political studies is considerable. This book could serve as a starting point for anyone interested in the current situation in Guatemala.

The only shortcoming I found is that the chapters do not flow smoothly. This is most likely due to the fact that some of the book was derived from previously written articles.

Nevertheless, I found it to be an enjoyable read and strongly recommend it to anyone interested in Guatemala and the Maya culture.