Political contestation within the human security paradigm: the state and indigenous rights in Peru and Chile

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article develops the concept indigenous human security to highlight consequential contestation over the meaning and deployment of the concept of human security towards indigenous populations. Using the case illustrations of Peru and Chile, we show how state policies may at times work in congruence with the human security of the general population, but create distinct and often overlooked insecurities for indigenous populations. We find states selectively implement human security to preserve existing governance and development patterns by utilising laws, policies, and state institutions that were not completely dismantled as part of the country’s democratisation efforts.