Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation is to assess the importance of Indian Social Movements and explain their occurrence. The rising of Indian movements during the decade of the 1970's was a widespread sociological phenomenon in most countries with Indian populations. Despite five hundred years of systematic extermination, Indians have not only survived, but are struggling to maintain their cultural and social identity. Through these efforts, they are becoming increasingly linked to revolutionary movements. ;A case study of one of the most important Indian movements in Colombia is presented: the case of the Indian Regional Council of Cauca, CRIC. Its development from 1970-82 is described and analyzed in detail. ;The dissertation concludes with the development of a theoretical framework for explaining the rise of Indian movements in general. A Marxist approach is adopted in conceiving the Indian movements as the product of society's structural contradictions and the development of consciousness. Marxist contentions are challenged with regards to their conjecture of the unavoidable disappearance of peasants and Indians and the political reactionary nature attributed to these groups. The differences between peasants and Indians are explored with regards to a social movement. Indian movements are characterized by the predominance of ethnic interests; however, both Peasant and Indian movements, such as CRIC, are considered part of the overall class struggle