eBook

The Origins of Indigenism

Niezen, Ronald

2002,2003

Overview

\"International indigenism\" may sound like a contradiction in terms, but it is indeed a global phenomenon and a growing form of activism. In his fluent and accessible narrative, Ronald Niezen examines the ways the relatively recent emergence of an internationally recognized identity—\"indigenous peoples\"—intersects with another relatively recent international movement—the development of universal human rights laws and principles. This movement makes use of human rights instruments and the international organizations of states to resist the political, cultural, and economic incursions of individual states. The concept \"indigenous peoples\" gained currency in the social reform efforts of the International Labor Organization in the 1950s, was taken up by indigenous nongovernmental organizations, and is now fully integrated into human rights initiatives and international organizations. Those who today call themselves indigenous peoples share significant similarities in their colonial and postcolonial experiences, such as loss of land and subsistence, abrogation of treaties, and the imposition of psychologically and socially destructive assimilation policies. Niezen shows how, from a new position of legitimacy and influence, they are striving for greater recognition of collective rights, in particular their rights to self-determination in international law. These efforts are influencing local politics in turn and encouraging more ambitious goals of autonomy in indigenous communities worldwide.

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Subject: 20th century / Anthropology / Civil rights / collective rights / cultural issues / economic development / Ethnic identity / Ethnicity / Ethnicity -- Political aspects / globalism / historical perspective / history of indigenism / Human rights / identity / Identity politics / Indigenism / indigenous communities / Indigenous peoples / Indigenous peoples -- Civil rights / Indigenous peoples -- Ethnic identity / Indigenous peoples -- Politics and government / Indigenous populations / international indigenism / international labor organization / international movements / international organizations / nonfiction / nongovernmental organizations / political activists / Political aspects / political issues / political perspective / Politics and government / sense of self / social activism / social reform / SOCIAL SCIENCE / SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / General / SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural & Social / universal rights
• ISBN: 9780520235540, 0520235541, 0520235568, 9780520235564, 9780520936690, 0520936698