Fronteras culturales difusas: autonomía étnica e identidad en textos andinos del siglo XVII

Abstract

This essay examines notions of ethnic power and discursive constructions of identity in two important Andean texts written after the age of Guaman Poma de Ayala and Garcilaso de la Vega»s works. Reworking scholastic medieval notions of «natural law», «common good», and «good government», these writings sought to legitimize the right of Andean peoples to rule their own political bodies given that Spanish rule in Peru transgressed basic notions of legitimacy. Criticizing the abuses and racism that Andeans were subject to, these manuscripts unmasked the inherent contradictions of colonialism, in particular the dislocating effect of the Toledan Reforms, which unleashed Indian slavery and the decline of Andean cacicazgos. Introducing himself as «noble», «Christian», and «loyal subject», the Andean writer attempted a cultural negotiation with the Spanish Crown to obtain a cacicazgo and carve new spaces of ethnic authority and social prestige, while advancing a reformulation of the racial hierarchies of colonialism.

Keywords

• Andean self-government
• andean writing
• andean social inclusion
• ethnic identity
• colonial racism