Indigenous Civil Society in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

Abstract This chapter compares Indigenous civil society across the three countries, revealing significant differences in the evolution of political opportunities, citizenship regimes, and mobilizing structures. The Pink Tide in Bolivia and Ecuador brought shifts in political opportunities, opening avenues for Indigenous participation. In contrast, Chile maintained a (neo)liberal citizenship regime with slow political evolution and limited tolerance for dissent. Bolivia and Ecuador, having experienced relatively less repressive regimes, built upon historical Indigenous mobilization, fostering stable CSOs. In Bolivia, the close integration of CSOs with the state is seen as a successful strategy but potentially weakening in the long run. In contrast, Mapuche CSOs in Chile face a rigid political system and limited opportunities, leading some to shift focus towards communication, education, and nation-building, while other CSOs choose violent tactics. The variation in multi-scalar positioning strategies is attributed to factors such as organization size, geographic location, and the relationship with the state. The 2019 protests in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile represented a resurgence of Indigenous mobilization, leveraging ICTs, political opportunities, and framing around citizenship and social rights. The effectiveness varied across countries, with Ecuador seeing a significant victory, Bolivia facing internal divisions, and Maupche gaining visibility but limited concrete outcomes.