The Ecuadorian Indigenous Movement As a Social Movement

For more than two decades, the indigenous movement in Ecuador has been –and despite a recent crisis still is– one of the most important social actors in Ecuador and Latin America. Its specificity of being mostly based on ethnic identity seems to have impeded a coherent interpretation of this movement as a social one, that is, an interpretation based on theories of social movements. Indeed, most analysis of this movement tend to focus on its discourse, its fight against racism and exclusion or its relationship with state and government. Only very few try to apply social movement theories on this social movement. This presentation will be one of them. Given that this research has an exploratory character, the theory used as an interpretative base will be resource mobilization theory, correcting its shortcomings, especially concerning discourse and culture, with other theories. The development of the organizations of the indigenous movement and the relations between them will be studied, highlighting the political, discursive and strategic differences and points of contact. By this, not only a compared history of the different organizations will be achieved, but also a specification of the thesis of the “crisis of the indigenous movement” in Ecuador. The special relationship with Rafael Correa and the subsequent efforts of unity and attempts of division will be another focus of this presentation.