Description: This timely and thorough book shows how the systematic isolation of indigenous communities from the political system has intensified ethnic conflict in Latin America. The distinguished North and Latin American contributors to this book draw on a broad range of expertise to give a vivid picture of Latin America's indigenous peoples, dispelling the myth that all these communities are somehow akin and emphasizing the tremendous diversity of their experiences. Attention is also devoted to the evolution of contemporary state policies and to legislation addressing the historical confrontation between Indian and state in Latin America. This volume, the result of a project of the Inter-American Dialogue, contains historical background and detailed case studies of eight Latin American countries, providing a remarkably complete and cogent framework for understanding a centrally important issue. It will be a valuable resource for policymakers, scholars, and students in many disciplines, and a thought-provoking introduction for the general reader.

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