Resurgent Voices in Latin America: Indigenous Peoples, Political Mobilization and Religious Change.

• Author: Daniels, Jessie
• Position: Book review

RESURGENT VOICES IN LATIN AMERICA: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, POLITICAL MOBILIZATION AND RELIGIOUS CHANGE Edward L. Cleary and Timothy J. Steigenga, eds. (New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 2004), 257 pages.

To understand the aligning of populist forces in Latin America, it is important to first inquire into the role of the estimated 35 to 40 million indigenous people in the region. Resurgent Voices in Latin America explores the recent political strides made by indigenous peoples in Latin America by examining the importance of the religion of indigenous populations in Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru.

Contributors use case studies to show how Christian religious institutions have interacted throughout history with indigenous peoples and how together, they are now ushering in a cultural and political renaissance. This revitalization is mainly the result of two factors. First, the Catholic Church stopped trying to force indigenous peoples into the church and instead decided to promote Christianity with an indigenous flavor, leading to the birth of an indigenous church. Secondly; the church provided valuable resources as well as structure, which helped build capacity among...