This research examines the conflict against extractivist development in Ecuador, emphasising the resistance of civil society over the past few decades. It explores into the formation of counter...Show moreThis research examines the conflict against extractivist development in Ecuador, emphasising the resistance of civil society over the past few decades. It explores into the formation of counter-hegemonic resistance and its entwinement with decolonial praxis within the Ecuadorian context. This study claims that this resistance advocates for a reimagined concept of development that demands decolonial and epistemological efforts. Through a localized analysis of this developmental paradigm, it investigates the emancipatory nature of these environmental struggles, hypothesizing that they challenge not only the dominant developmental model but also the very concept of development itself.Show less
The Valdivia Culture, which occupied costal Ecuador between 3800 and 1450 BC, was one of the first cultures in the Americas to go through the Neolithic Revolution. One of the better known elements...Show moreThe Valdivia Culture, which occupied costal Ecuador between 3800 and 1450 BC, was one of the first cultures in the Americas to go through the Neolithic Revolution. One of the better known elements of this culture is their ceramic human figurines, which are commonly referred to as “Venus” Figurines because most of them are female representations. Academic studies about them have mainly focused on trying to explain the faction that they played in the Valdivian society. The idea that the figurines were intentionally broken as part of rituals and ceremonies has been very influential for these studies. However, the evidences presented so far to support this idea are rather weak. This thesis is an attempt to find further evidence through the use of experimental replication and experimental breakage of figurines. 65 different tests were made, each of which was an attempt to break a figurine with one of nine selected methods, two of which reflect accidental breakage while the rest reflect intentional breakage. The broken figurine replicas were then compared with archaeological figurines from the collections of Alexander Hirtz and the museum Casa del Alabado to establish how they were broken. It was not possible to determine which specific method was used to break each archaeological figurine because the patterns left by the different breakage methods are not distinctive enough. However, it was possible to determine a fifth of the reference collection was probably broken by a “strong” impact, which likely reflects intentional breakage. Nevertheless, under the current state of knowledge, it is not possible to be certain about the practice of the ritual breakage of Valdivian “Venus” Figurines.Show less
Victim blaming after a rape still happens, women should not dress like a ‘slut’ otherwise they might get raped and if a woman enjoys sex, she is a ‘slut’. The SlutWalk movement stands up against...Show moreVictim blaming after a rape still happens, women should not dress like a ‘slut’ otherwise they might get raped and if a woman enjoys sex, she is a ‘slut’. The SlutWalk movement stands up against these problems from a feminist perspective. The research question of this thesis is what is the difference between the perception of indigenous and white feminism on la Marcha de las Putas in Ecuador? With the following hypothesis: the concerns and ideas of indigenous women in Ecuador are not taken into account within la Marcha de las Putas, this results in a lack of representation within the SlutWalk movement. The main goal of feminism is equality between men and women. The earlier definition of feminism, written by De Beauvoir (1949) and Butler (1988) will be complemented with the many, contemporary, forms of feminism by, along with others, Ross (2009) and Stefanovici (2016). Feminism in Latin America and indigenous feminism in Ecuador specifically is researched by Bastain Duarte (2012), Sternbach et al (1992) and Hernández Castillo (2002; 2010). The historical and cultural context of the SlutWalk is studied by, among others, O’Keefe (2014) and Healicon (2013). For some women, it is hard to reclaim the word ‘slut’ based on negative historical connections with the word and there is stated that the SlutWalk is a white feminist movement. There is too little research about the connection between indigenous feminism and the SlutWalk. Therefore the case study will be a content analysis of the manifest of la Marcha de Las Putas in Ecuador, whereby the use of the words ‘puta’ and ‘nos’ are being analyzed. The problems indigenous women have with the SlutWalk are not addressed in the manifest, the word ‘puta’ is reclaimed without thinking of the consequences for some women and race and ethnicity is not addressed at all. There is a lack of inclusivity within la Marcha de las Putas in Ecuador.Show less
Considering Ecuador’s colonial legacy regarding its marginalized indigenous, this research is aimed at finding out the following: why are the indigenous people still marginalized today even during...Show moreConsidering Ecuador’s colonial legacy regarding its marginalized indigenous, this research is aimed at finding out the following: why are the indigenous people still marginalized today even during a pandemic? How can the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) be seen as a part of postcolonialism in countries like Ecuador? By demonstrating how they and which articles have been violated in four time periods – the 1990s and 2000s uprisings, Rafael Correa’s regime, Lenin Moreno’s regime, and the pandemic- I also aim at finding out why they have been violated. In addition, this research has looked at one important colonial legacy of Ecuador: racism and discrimination. This has been further elaborated in the research, where the notion of mestizaje, class and racial discrimination has been further unpacked from a postcolonial perspective. Furthermore, the research argues that the UDHR, though ambitious, is not adequate enough to protect the rights of the indigenous communities. This is because the UDHR is not legally binding. However, the UDHR has also been unpacked from the postcolonial perspective: if global governance, can be seen as troublesome due to the imperial undertone it could potentially have. Lastly, the events that are being mentioned in the time periods serve as evidence that back up these claims.Show less
This paper consists of an analysis of the failure of the Yasuní-ITT Initiative, examining the internal and external factors that influenced the Initiative’s development, progress and subsequent...Show moreThis paper consists of an analysis of the failure of the Yasuní-ITT Initiative, examining the internal and external factors that influenced the Initiative’s development, progress and subsequent failure. The Yasuní-ITT Initiative was introduced under the Correa government as an environmental project that proposed to discontinue oil extraction in part of the Yasuní National Park in Ecuador, in turn for financial compensation from the international community. As such, it had the opportunity to set an example of global collaboration in conservation by proposing to share the costs and benefits of conservation internationally. While attempting to find an explanation for the Initiative’s failure, this paper taps into the highly topical dilemma between ecologism and economism as faced by the Ecuadorian government.Show less
In light of the Latin American neo-extractivism model of development, this thesis investigates the role Rafael Correa has fulfilled with respect to the environment and population. In doing so, it...Show moreIn light of the Latin American neo-extractivism model of development, this thesis investigates the role Rafael Correa has fulfilled with respect to the environment and population. In doing so, it questions whether Correa's views on environmental sustainability and social welfare have radically altered the neoliberal foundations of the economy, most importantly the influence of transnational companies, and whether his leadership has improved the socio-environmental circumstances of Ecuador. The thesis deals with the incorporation of Buen Vivir into the Constitution, including its controversies; Ecuador’s social indicators before and during Correa’s presidency; the treatment of Correa of an internationally prominent lawsuit against the US company Texaco; and the president’s response to social dissent and consequences for democratic representation.Show less
Ecuador's constitution of 2008 has gathered worldwide attention for its progressive outlook. The constitution adopted Buen Vivir (good living), a concept rooted in the Andean indigenous social...Show moreEcuador's constitution of 2008 has gathered worldwide attention for its progressive outlook. The constitution adopted Buen Vivir (good living), a concept rooted in the Andean indigenous social movements, as the leading principle of the state. Scholars have called Buen Vivir a potential 'alternative to development': it redefines the objective of national planning as achieving harmony between nature, society and individuals, as opposed to narrowly-defined improved material wellbeing. Nonetheless, critics claim that the term has turned into a guise for new developmentalist state practices. This thesis assesses how a radical new discourse such as Buen Vivir evolves once confronted with the structures of the state and the constraints of society and economy. Drawing on Critical Discourse Analysis, it analyses how the framing of Buen Vivir in the speeches of Ecuador's presidents has limited its transformative potential. Furthermore, it illustrates how gaps between discourse, state practices and constitutional values have rendered the emancipatory meaning of Buen Vivir ambiguous.Show less
This thesis focuses on community-based tourism (CBT) projects in Ecuador. The work discusses the grade of control that indigenous communities have in this form of ecotourism and also analyses the...Show moreThis thesis focuses on community-based tourism (CBT) projects in Ecuador. The work discusses the grade of control that indigenous communities have in this form of ecotourism and also analyses the empowerment of those groups in certain projects. This empowerment is often a result of foreign aid. Although indigenous communities often seem to be in control of CBT projects, empowerment is an issue in some cases.Show less
For decades now, the earth’s climate has been tampered with as greenhouse gases have been pumped into the atmosphere without any constraints. On top of that, the world is still troubled by immense...Show moreFor decades now, the earth’s climate has been tampered with as greenhouse gases have been pumped into the atmosphere without any constraints. On top of that, the world is still troubled by immense social inequalities, putting the feasibility of realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nation in 2015 in question. The last decade has been a period overshadowed by a variety of crises, from immigration crises to financial crises. This has raised criticism, demanding to reconsider the current development paradigm. The rational of development through economic growth cannot be maintained, particularly due to our planets’ boundaries. We have exhausted our planets limits and are steering towards its tipping point. This paper will look at the Ecuadorian case of Sumak Kawsay, a variant of Buen Vivir which, has been an increasingly popular worldview in the Andean and Amazon region of Latin America. This paper will explore Buen Vivir as an alternative development strategy and critically assess its viability to achieve a set of three distinct UN sustainable development goals. Additionally, the current global political economy will be critically discussed. Thus, this paper can be placed within the wider debate of development studies, seeking alternatives to the current development paradigm.Show less
An International Studies bachelor thesis on the role of the ‘Ecuador’ mural (1952), by Oswaldo Guayasamín, in representing minorities in twentieth-century Ecuador.
Afro-descendants women are rarely elected into office, however their presence has grown in the last 20 years in several Latin American countries. Nevertheless, the challenges and role of women in...Show moreAfro-descendants women are rarely elected into office, however their presence has grown in the last 20 years in several Latin American countries. Nevertheless, the challenges and role of women in politics that particularly come from an ethnic group have been scarcely researched in the context of Latin America. This thesis combines a qualitative and quantitative research to gauge the descriptive representation of afro-descendants women in Ecuador, particularly after the elections of Rafael Correa as president of Ecuador. A discourse analysis of the political discourse of Alianza País has been used to assess to what extent has Alianza País included afro-descendant women descriptive representation in their official documents. Alianza País is one of the major parties in Ecuador, since 2006 they have promoted a discourse of ethnic inclusion. This thesis argues that the textual discourse of Alianza País favors inclusion but not representation.Show less
