Mas Que Un Indio (More Than An Indian): Racial Ambivalence And Neoliberal Multiculturalism in Guatemala

The Maya in Guatemala were largely successful in challenging racism and achieving basic human rights in the last 20 years, which coincided with neoliberal economic reforms. The result is neoliberal multiculturalism, which has encouraged advancement by the Maya while creating a racial hierarchy against the more numerous Ladinos, who quietly fear a Maya ascendancy in the economic climate. Hale (U. of Texas, Austin) provides a very detailed account of what transpired over the 12 years of his research, describing how Ladinos viewed the Maya movement and the Guatemalan state in light of neoliberal multiculturalism, the role of the regional in indigenous politics, Ladino racial ambivalence and the issue of reverse racism, and the possibilities of racial healing given the limits of Ladino solidarity. Hale closes with a transnational perspective on the possible ramifications of indigenous politics elsewhere. Annotation c2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)