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Lekil Kuxlejal - an alternative to development? A field study in Chiapas, Mexico

Prage, Lovisa LU (2015) SANK02 20151
Social Anthropology
Abstract
The development ideals of linear progress, modernization and economic growth are based on one
worldview among many, but have nonetheless been able to dominate global politics. Critical development
literature has shown how indigenous peoples’ cosmologies have been pushed aside since
colonialism, deemed traditional and backwards. There is a growing interest in searching for alternatives
to the development paradigm in non-Western cosmologies, for example represented by the Bolivian
and Ecuadorian notion of Buen Vivir, meaning ’good living’. In Chiapas, Mexico, the Mayan
concept Lekil Kuxlejal, translates to something similar. With the message ”Another world is possible”,
the indigenous movement in Chiapas, has become known for its... (More)
The development ideals of linear progress, modernization and economic growth are based on one
worldview among many, but have nonetheless been able to dominate global politics. Critical development
literature has shown how indigenous peoples’ cosmologies have been pushed aside since
colonialism, deemed traditional and backwards. There is a growing interest in searching for alternatives
to the development paradigm in non-Western cosmologies, for example represented by the Bolivian
and Ecuadorian notion of Buen Vivir, meaning ’good living’. In Chiapas, Mexico, the Mayan
concept Lekil Kuxlejal, translates to something similar. With the message ”Another world is possible”,
the indigenous movement in Chiapas, has become known for its autonomy project and resistance
towards neoliberalism. This thesis aims to explore how the concept of lekil kuxlejal forms part of
this political struggle and the ways in which it provides an alternative to neoliberal development
discourse. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Prage, Lovisa LU
supervisor
organization
course
SANK02 20151
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
autonomy, indigenous movements, Buen Vivir, Social anthropology, development
language
English
id
7857560
date added to LUP
2015-09-09 10:20:22
date last changed
2015-09-09 10:20:22
@misc{7857560,
  abstract     = {{The development ideals of linear progress, modernization and economic growth are based on one
worldview among many, but have nonetheless been able to dominate global politics. Critical development
literature has shown how indigenous peoples’ cosmologies have been pushed aside since
colonialism, deemed traditional and backwards. There is a growing interest in searching for alternatives
to the development paradigm in non-Western cosmologies, for example represented by the Bolivian
and Ecuadorian notion of Buen Vivir, meaning ’good living’. In Chiapas, Mexico, the Mayan
concept Lekil Kuxlejal, translates to something similar. With the message ”Another world is possible”,
the indigenous movement in Chiapas, has become known for its autonomy project and resistance
towards neoliberalism. This thesis aims to explore how the concept of lekil kuxlejal forms part of
this political struggle and the ways in which it provides an alternative to neoliberal development
discourse.}},
  author       = {{Prage, Lovisa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Lekil Kuxlejal - an alternative to development? A field study in Chiapas, Mexico}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}