New social movements, indigenous activism and globalisation from below: the case of the sacred land of Wirikuta

Abstract

This research dissertation is divided into three chapters. Chapter 1 focuses in the
descriptive, theoretical and normative aspects of the problem, providing the conceptual and
analytical groundwork of the significance of indigenous struggles in a context of
globalisation. In Chapter II, I discuss the key elements of this dissertation in order to
prepare the basis for section III, and explore other cases of indigenous struggles in order to
connect theory and practice of indigenous activism. Chapter III focuses on the question
developed in Chapter I in light of the case study: the sacred land of Wirikuta case and the
struggles of the Wixáritari people in Mexico. The research question of this dissertation is
this: considering that several scholars have suggested that indigenous movements have
come to challenge contemporary understandings of legality and legitimacy of the modern
state (Fitzpatrick 2001; Grote 1999; Santos 2009; Warren and Jackson 2002; Yashar 2005)
how is this challenge articulated into the strategies and actions of indigenous movements of
resistance, and furthermore, are these movements really achieving the full emancipatory
potential of their struggles? To put it in other words, I will concentrate in the question:
Under what conditions and by which mechanisms are indigenous activists fulfilling the
counter-hegemonic potential of their struggles. The theoretical part of this dissertation is concentrated in chapters 1 and 2, on chapter 3 I
concentrate on press releases and secondary sources in order to gain insight into the content
and methods of speech regarding indigenous activism.