Review by Choice Review
Richards (sociology and women's studies, Georgia) offers an engaging, well-researched, and timely analysis of the ways in which race and racism have influenced Chilean society and politics. Drawing on a rich body of literature about race in Latin America, in-depth oral interviews, and ethnographic fieldwork in the south of Chile, she successfully demonstrates how neoliberalism has marginalized Mapuche communities in Chile and consolidated traditional racial ideas and hierarchies. In the Araucania region, neoliberal economic policies have aggravated traditional economic tensions, increasing disputes over land, resources, and autonomy. Richards demonstrates that although the state has made efforts to invest in infrastructure and implement programs of social development in the region, the persistence of violence, racism, and authoritarianism are drowning out many community leaders and, more importantly, dangerously hindering democracy. The author is especially successful in providing a very complete picture of the conflict, bringing together an analysis of the state and state policies as well as what she calls "local subjectivities"--the many different voices of a heterogeneous indigenous community. Overall, this outstanding book provides a much-needed perspective on a most persistent conflict in post-authoritarian Chile. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. A. Vergara California State University, Los Angeles
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
