Larson, Anne M. 2006. "Indigenous Peoples, Representation and Citizenship in Guatemalan Forestry." Presented at "Survival of the Commons: Mounting Challenges and New Realities," the Eleventh Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property, Bali, Indonesia, June 19-23, 2006.

Abstract

"Though decision-making is still largely centralized, Guatemalan municipal governments can now play a key role in local forest management, and, with some exceptions, these authorities have been the principle local institutions empowered to participate in natural resource authority. Whereas some theorists argue that such elected authorities are the most likely to be representative and downwardly accountable, others have raised serious concerns regarding the ability of these political institutions to represent the interests of minority and/or historically excluded or oppressed groups. In particular, Latin American indigenous movements are fighting for new conceptions of democracy and practices of representation that recognize collective rights and respect for customary law and authority. This paper explores the extent to which elected municipal versus traditional indigenous authorities represent the interests and needs of indigenous communities with regard to forest management. It first traces the historical context of relations between indigenous people and the state in the region, then presents the findings from case studies in two Guatemalan municipalities. It finds that both authorities have some strengths as well as important weaknesses, thus supporting arguments for hybrid solutions and the conscious reinvention of both liberal democracy and tradition in the interest of inclusive citizenship."