Compare and contrast the development of Ecuadors indigenous political Essay

Compare and contrast the development of Ecuadors indigenous political movement with the development of nationalism throughtout south america in the 20th century - Essay Example It was in the fag end of 19th century that South America went through a process of modernization and nationalism emerged as a new shade in its socio-political horizon1. This is what Snyder2 has called as the â€Å"transformation of nationalism from its oligarchic to a new populist form.† The Latin American countries rapidly modernized their infrastructure, transportation facilities grew, industries mushroomed, and there was a change over from â€Å"feudal agrarianism to urban industrialism.† 3 But this was not the case in Ecuador. A transformation similar to what happened in Chile, Argentina or Mexico came into Ecuador only in 1970s. Even when the change came, it was not based on bourgeois nationalism as it was the case in almost all other South American countries. Ecuador had largely remained a feudal agrarian nation until the third half of 20th century. King 4 has observed that the indigenous political movement in Ecuador has been a consequence of the revelation in 19 70s that that this land had rich petroleum resources. Once, the outside pressure mounted to exploit those resources, the economic and cultural well being of the native people came under threat 5 It was out of this struggle for survival that one of the world’s strongest political movements emerged. 6 The development of a politically active and aware middle class was another phenomenon that Latin American countries witnessed in 20th century.7 In the first half of the 20th century, the whole of Latin America had seen a fresh revival of active political movements. 8 But at that time, Ecuador was not moved by that social dynamics9. The movement that shook Latin America had roots in ethnicity and was called the indigenista movement 10. All the same it had derived its essence from the European enlightenment as well11 And this movement was anchored on nationalism and bourgeois