Indigenous Mobilization in Oaxaca, Mexico: Towards Indianismo?

Abstract

This article argues that indigenous mobilization in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico has been based on a pragmatic, fluid and flexible identity that is strategically adapted to the particular circumstances. The principle concerns of the indigenous movements discussed here are resource access and control in the context of Mexican capitalist modernization. Further, it is argued that Indian organizing in this part of Mexico must be understood within a socio-economic structure in which a ruling class of merchants aided by their politico-bureaucratic collaborators dominates the state of Oaxaca. Comparisons with other regions, notably Chiapas, in light of different methods of capital accumulation and their concomitant class structures and relations, rather than research based solely on identity politics in the postmodern sense, would, we suggest, make a valuable contribution to expanding our knowledge of Mexican Indian movements in the context of capitalism and indigenismo.