The struggles for the recognition of ethnic citizenship: the case of the indigenous movement in Guerrero

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to discuss the idea of citizenship and ethnic rights, a category that summarizes the cleavages of exclusion that indigenous peoples have suffered for years in the State of Guerrero, for this the case of two municipalities is presented, mostly made up of a population with an indigenous majority, where demands for autonomy have been presented that are related to the axes of inclusion/exclusion posed by the category of ethnic citizenship. For this reason, this document is divided into two parts, the first part addresses the theoretical discussion, bringing up some authors, on citizenship; and in a second moment, the cases are presented that can better illustrate how indigenous peoples put into practice the exercise of their collective rights and their ethnic citizenship, particularly I am referring to the municipality of Suljaa' (Xochistlahuaca) and the autonomous municipality, which was legally known as Rancho Viejo, later self-named Rancho Nuevo de la Democracia, today renamed the National Flag, both belonging to the State of Guerrero. These two cases have similarities between them, given the process of struggle that they have carried out in the Costa Chica Region and that are emblematic for the state of Guerrero, in that they have consolidated democratic processes in search of autonomy, although in the case of Xochistlahuaca this has been truncated unlike the National Flag. Finally, in the conclusions, some reflections are presented that revolve around contributing to the discussion, recognizing indigenous peoples' right to autonomy and their acceptance as culturally diverse citizens, who cannot fit into the traditional conception of Mexican citizenship.