Dealing with Diversity: Autonomy and Intercultural Dialogue

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Ixtln and Guelatao, indigenous Zapotec communities in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico, have achieved an important degree of community-based autonomy relying on dialogue at the internal and external level. This book explores the relation between the construction of autonomy and the exercise of intercultural dialogue at the intra-community, inter-community and external levels through the analysis of three main themes. First, the categorisation of their inhabitants to define their rights and responsibilities within the internal socio-political structures. Second, the re-appropriation of their territories and natural resources and organisation around the figure of the comunidad agraria. Finally, the relation between communities within the municipality of Ixtln on issues such as allocation of federal funds and usos y costumbres ruling their interactions; and the political and ideological influence of outsiders on the municipal balance of power. This research should be useful to social scientists, students, activists, politicians, indigenous organisations and communities who are trying to understand experiencies of de facto indigenous autonomy through intercultural dialogue.