This thesis presents a discussion of the main materialistic theories proposed to
explain the process of development among the indigenous population of Latin America.
Four theoretical approaches are presented and discussed. The first one deals with the
social group referred to as peasants. The second one explains the process of economic
development at the global level. The third one deals with agroecology and its
implications. The fourth and final one refers to ethnicity studies. These four theories are
related to the case study of the Indian peasants of Cebadas, Ecuador. These people have
experienced and continue to experience processes of economic development and ethnic
revitalization, thus providing a good example of how all the theories discussed interplay
in a local setting.
The element that brings all pieces together is an agroforestry development project
carried out in Cebadas by an Ecuadorian non-governmental organization. The rejection by
the Indian peasants of the agroecological orientation of the agroforestry project, in the
context of the historical and current sociocultural processes of the area represent a choice
for a special kind of modernization. The modernization that the Indian peasants want does
not create loss of ethnic specificity, but rather reinforces their self-organization and
increases their economic opportunities. Results show a relationship between use of exotic
tree species and modern technology and the emergence of an incipient Indian ethnic
movement. / Graduation date: 1996
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/28304 |
| Date | 03 April 1996 |
| Creators | Ocana, Juan Carlos |
| Contributors | Young, John A. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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