Dealing with diversity

Ixtlán and Guelatao indigenous Zapotec communitiesin the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca Mexico haveachieved an important degree of community-basedautonomy relying on dialogue at the internal andexternal level. This book explores the relation between theconstruction of autonomy and the exercise ofintercultural dialogue at the intra-communityinter-community and external levels through theanalysis of three main themes. First thecategorisation of their inhabitants to define theirrights and responsibilities within the internalsocio-political structures. Second there-appropriation of their territories and naturalresources and organisation around the figure of thecomunidad agraria. Finally the relation betweencommunities within the municipality of Ixtlán onissues such as allocation of federal funds and usos ycostumbres ruling their interactions; and thepolitical and ideological influence of outsiders onthe municipal balance of power.This research should be useful to social scientistsstudents activists politicians indigenousorganisations and communities who are trying tounderstand experiencies of de facto indigenousautonomy through intercultural dialogue.