 Indigenous autonomy and decentralization in Colombia's quest for peaceDerek P. Mitchell Global Policy, 2024, vol. 15, issue S3, 14-25 Abstract: Colombia's constitution recognizes territorial autonomy as an inalienable right of its indigenous peoples, much like other countries across Latin America. Yet, for indigenous people exercising those rights, Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world. Why do states grant extensive rights to indigenous peoples and then fail to uphold them? This article approaches that question through an analysis of decentralization amid Colombia's armed conflict. It examines how crises that prompted a decentralization of governance during the conflict created political opportunities for indigenous rights in Colombia. Subsequent shifts in the conflict, however, including competition for control of extractive industries, put indigenous autonomy at odds with all the conflicting parties' interests. To resolve these challenges, the article suggests that the politics of climate change has created new political opportunities for indigenous autonomy throughout Latin America. It calls for investing in indigenous self‐governance to both protect the environment and secure peace. Date: 2024 Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:glopol:v:15:y:2024:i:s3:p:14-25 Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from Access Statistics for this article Global Policy is currently edited by David Held, Patrick Dunleavy and Eva-Maria Nag More articles in Global Policy from London School of Economics and Political Science Contact information at EDIRC. |
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