Politics andSociety
Investigation Reports 2019
Translation by: Dairin Jiménez (Pages 01-150) Vanessa Pérez (Pages 151- 301)
Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Report – 2019 is a publication of the Institute of Political and Social Investigation “Dr. René Eduardo Poitevin Dardón”, of the School of Political Science, San Carlos University of Guatemala. Written resource aimed to professors, students and graduates within the current branch of politics and social investigation; it is an annual publishing, which contains specialized documents about Social Sciences.
Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Report – 2019 is a publication of the Institute of Political and Social Investigation, San Carlos University of Guatemala.
Guatemala: Institute of Political and Social Investigation.
320 P769
Institute of Political and Social Investigation, 1976
Annual
Year 1, edition 2019
Politic and Society – Investigation Reports – 2019 is published by the Institute of Political and Social Investigation “Dr. René Eduardo Poitevin Dardón”, of the School of Political Science. Building M-5, second floor, office 219, Central Campus, zone 12, Guatemala City, Guatemala. Politics and Society Founded in 1976
www.iips.usac.edu.gt IIPS “Dr. René Poitevin Dardón” @iips_usac iips Ciencias Políticas-USAC [email protected] iips_ecp
Publishing House:
3a. Avenue 14-62, zone 1 PBX: (502) 2245-8888 www.serviprensa.com
Title Page: Milton R. Juárez A. Layout: Elizabeth González
This book was printed in November, 2019. This edition consists of 500 copies printed on 80 grams bond paper.
Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Report – 2019
Institute of Political and Social Investigation “Dr. René Eduardo Poitevin Dardón”
School of Political Science San Carlos University of Guatemala
Each author is responsible of the information contained in their articles
ISSN: 2518-4733
Politics and Social Magazine – Research Reports – 2019 is an academic publishing with open access to the information within social field for critical analysis. Contents can be modified and distributed on condition that authors obtain their credit and keep this license for the next project derived from it.
San Carlos University of Guatemala Authorities
Chancellor: Murphy Olympo Paiz Recinos
General Secretary: Carlos Enrique Valladares Cerezo
School of Political Science Board of Directors Principal: Mike Hangelo Rivera Contreras
Member I: Henry Dennys Mira Sandoval Member II: Carmen Olivia Álvarez Bobadilla Member III: Meylin Valeria Montúfar Esquiná Member IV: Karla María Morales Divas Member V: Rodolfo Ernesto García Hidalgo Secretary: Ana Nineth Burgos Méndez IIPS Principal MSc. Manuel Rivera y Rivera
Editorial Board Julio Pinto Soria, Historian Rogelio Salazar, Philosopher and Writer Manuel Rivera, Sociologist Carolina López Taks, Socioligist Edwin Jahir Dabroy, Political Scientist Jeanie Herrera, Sociologist Mario Navarro, Political Scientist
Research Team Rosaura Raguex Morales Jorge Aragón González Karen Arévalo Mejía Andrea Hernández Guerra Francisco Simón Francisco Cenia Marroquín Solís
Publisher and Designer Milton R. Juárez A.
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Index
Presentation...... 9
Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala IIPS —Sociological Studies Area— ...... 11
From outrage to the show: la plaza 2015 IIPS —Political Studies Area— ...... 137
Environmental Management in Guatemala: the dimension of the state and contribution of international cooperation IIPS —International Studies Area — ...... 221
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Presentation
With the effort to transfer the processes indigenous migrants studying at the of inquiry to the academic community, University of San Carlos of analysis and the Institute of Political Guatemala, as well as in order to and Social Investigation (IIPS by its know the ambivalences generated by acronym in Spanish) areas and work university logic in young indigenous teams proposals of the School of migrants: to demonstrate the notion Political Science, we start with this and elements that give meaning to Magazine a new exercise that will allow the Mayan identity from the gaze and us to register a set of investigation experience of the young indigenous experiences and continuously fulfill with migrants studying in the USAC, and the main objective of our institute. to return the way or ways in which indigenous migrant women live their Consequently, we present, three university life and to investigate what Investigation Reports which correspond this logic of indigenous university life to the areas forming the IIPS backbone. responds to.
The first of them, developed by the This research was under the Area of Sociological Studies, introduce coordination of Master Rosaura us into the field of higher education and Raguex, with the assistance of to the impact of it on an important research assistant Francisco Simón sector of our society: indigenous Mayan Francisco. woman who have migrated to the city in order to continuing with their university Highlighting one of the many edges studies. that emerged from the popular demonstrations in 2015 following This investigation was made with the allegations of corruption by senior expectation of making visible the officials of Government of construction and/or strengthening of Guatemala, the second report, Mayan identity and self-recognition of developed by the young
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019
Area of Political Studies seeks to explain local institutions such as the Ministry the political and ideological content of of Environment and Natural 2015 political crisis, based on theory of Resources –MARN-, Ministry of social representations and the concept of Energy and Mines –MEM- and the political imaginaries. In addition, this National Coordinator for Disaster research approach examines the role of Reduction –CONRED-. In addition, political and social actors during the researchers from the International marked period, identified in retrospect, Studies Area turned their attention to the actions implemented by the State the speeches and positions of main of Guatemala to optimize the actors during the "situational phase", resources obtained through establishing the implications for social cooperation for the environment. movements and political forces today, in response to the developing scenario for The coordination of this investigation the 2019 electoral process. process was carried out by Bachelor Karen Arévalo, in collaboration with The coordination of this research process Cenia Marroquín, research assistant. was carried out by Professor Jorge Aragón in collaboration with Andrea With all professional research effort, Hernández, research assistant. what we share on this occasion is bound to any kind of appreciation The third report focuses on the role of that leads to the enrichment of the international cooperation in Guatemala, results that, with responsibility and specifically cooperation that is linked to interest, have been developed by the environmental problems. This study was three areas of study of the IIPS. carried out with the purpose of analyzing the impact that has been caused by the We thank to the current authorities of implementation of the 2030 agenda in the the School of Political Science of San sector involved on environmental issues Carlos University of Guatemala for in Guatemala and the role played by their unconditional support and its cooperating agencies (Spanish Agency manifest and strong conviction that our Institute must be a decisive for International Development element in revalidation of the Cooperation –AECID- [by its acronyms in academy of social sciences from our Spanish], Inter-American Development Alma Mater and our country. Bank –IDB- among others) that support
MSc. Manuel Rivera IIPS-ECP-USAC Principal October, 2019
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Politics and Society – Investigation Reports – 2019 Researches/Investigaciones ISSN: 2518-4733
Identity and realities of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala
IIPS –Sociological Studies Area–
Introduction
socio political, cultural and economic Mayan identity rather than conception context. Generations of Mayan is a resistance and political struggle women and men have tried to from Mayan populations, particularly redefine their Mayan identity in the from Mayan women students. At San midst of an historical racist social Carlos University of Guatemala (USAC structure, whose logic is the constant by its acronym in Spanish) the only depriving of identity and its contempt public university in Guatemala, there is when it manifests itself. a small replica of historical inequalities and exclusions in the country. This The emphasis was placed on Mayan investigation report focuses on the women who migrate because analysis of Mayan women identity that generally, the realities from their has temporarily or constantly migrated peoples or communities are different to Central Campus. from those generated in the city; in this case at USAC Central Campus. Mayan identity is an historical social It is necessary to refer that migration construct, and it is transmitted with must not only be seen as a necessity, certain particularities according to but as a right that defies the historical structures and model of Guatemalan
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019
society, in this case in higher Second chapter discusses, describes education, where there is an and interprets the implications that appropriation of critical and generate identity in Mayan women at deconstructive knowledge by Mayan the University. One of the youth, particularly from women. contributions of this section is the description of identity forms and the This research report is divided into four mechanisms of strengthening and chapters, each with their respective defending that identity against sub-chapters. In this introductory racism, discrimination and several section, in a roughly way, it raises historical and contemporary contextual generalities of student violences experienced through population in the Central Campus generations and their impact on USAC. In additon, research young Mayan people, not only in their methodological references are daily lives but in different spaces implemented and also the such as the academy. characterization of the analysis center. Third chapter refers to the multiple identities in Mayan populations and The first chapter makes a theoretical the contributions made by the and conceptual analysis of Mayan University to take awareness of non- identity in Guatemala, which seeks to Mayan students regarding to Mayan question the homogenization of the populations. The need for critical and term identity. It is emphasized that deconstructive dialogues between Mayan identity has been a political students, professors and workers of identity, transgressing structural the University regarding the historical political norms in the country. Likewise, inequalities and exclusions of it is intended to deconstruct this term difference, of Mayan and non-Mayan because from collective and individual people is underlined. daily realities of Mayan populations, and in this particular case, of Mayan And finally, in the fourth chapter, two women, the term of identity implies not life stories of young Mayan women only a world view of life, but a necessity are made, both of them are to remain in history, having a past, a kaqchikel: Carolina is from present and projecting a future. Chimaltenango, a student at the Faculty of Agronomy and Engineering; Lesly, is
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala not obtained dialogue spaces and from San Juan Sacatepéquez, she even relief promoted by the studied an Associate degree in University itself. This is a sign that Intercultural Bilingual Education (EBI by there is a need to deconstruct the its acronym in Spanish) at the Training ways and senses of doing research College of Secondary Education not only at the university but also at Teachers (EFPEM by its acronym in national level. Spanish). The interest in developing these life stories is to place and deepen Thanks to the collaboration of the notion, in the implications of moderators, colleagues, sisters and apprehension and self-recognition as friends in the discussion groups: Msc. Maya in Mayan women students who Victoria Tubin, Ms. Eulalia Jiménez, have lived all their lives in their villages Ms. Sonia López, Sandra Xinico and and who, in deciding to study the Karla Morales. Fascinating University involved re-accommodating, contributions and discussions were questioning and deconstructing generated. because their reality is disturbed by Vicenta Reynoso and Sandra Miculax other realities that deny, silence and are students of the School of Political strip them of their stories and therefore Science who are thanked for their their origins, but that this, in Lesly's support in the transcription of three case, has strengthened her and interviews and two discussion assumed her Mayan identity without groups. fear suffer. Likewise, the conversations, This interpretation and analysis of meetings and reflections generated Mayan identity in women in USAC around the research with MSc. Central Campus, from their voices and Victoria Tubin, Dr. Edgar Esquit and feelings has been one of the MSc. Rigoberto Quemé are also contributions that have been achieved appreciated. thanks to them. This construction and Student contextual information at deconstruction of the identity term was USAC the product of openness, sincerity, trust and need to speak of the students who The universe of analysis is the participated. From the discussions Central Campus of USAC, covering between Mayan women, half-breed three areas of professionalization, and/or Ladins and Mayan men, several according to the General of the Mayan students questioned Organization Chart of the University: themselves the reason why they have 1. Area of Health Sciences: the Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of 13
Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019
Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnic, in such academic units—according Faculty of Medical Sciences, School of to data from the Statistics Section of Psychological sciences and School of USAC Registration and Statistics Science and Technology of Physical Office 2017. – Activity and Sport (ECTAFIDE by its acronym in Spanish). In this area, it The sample of Mayan women should be emphasized that the Faculty migrant students on the Central of Medical Sciences and the School of Campus was carried out by non- Psychological Sciences were not probabilistic sampling, since the total addressed for this research because of young Maya were taken those they are located outside the Central who are migrants, that is, those who Campus. travel from their places of origin or villages to the Central Campus. Its 2. Humanistic Social Area: Faculty of provenance was only determined by Legal and Social Sciences, Faculty of its participation in the discussion Economic Sciences, Faculty of groups. Humanities, School of Political Science, EFPEM, School of History, School of Research methodology Social Work, School of Communication Sciences, School of Linguistic Sciences and Higher School of Art. In this area, For the type and nature of such the Higher School of Art was not taken research work was addressed from into account because it is located the qualitative method, this method outside the Central Campus. allows to understand, apprehend and analyze elements not only 3. Technical Area: Faculty of objectives but also subjective as is Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, the Maya identity, Maya self- Faculty of Agronomy, Faculty of identification or self-recognition. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science, Guatemala South University Institute of Irene Vasilachis argues that "in Technology (ITUGS), School of terms of methodology, perspectives Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and strategies, qualitative research Maya Institute of Technology for Higher is considered to be a comprehensive Education (ITMES). term that refers to different Not all academic units were addressed approaches and orientations" (2006, by the few or nearly void Mayan women p. 24), that is, that there is a
multiplicity of do qualitative
research, though it should be 14
Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala clarified that this diversity coincides in analysis, 4) objective hermeneutics something common, which is to and sociology of hermeneutic understand, analyze and interpret knowledge, 5) phenomenology and social reality, the world from known analysis of small worlds of life, 6) subjects, in terms of Vasilachis. ethnography, 7) cultural studies, and
8) gender studies". So the qualitative method not only seeks and demonstrates tangible Pierre Bourdieu (2008) in his realities but also the subjective realities, reflexive sociology, emphasizes that constructions and apprehensions that it is necessary for the cognitive make the subjects of reality itself and subject to explore the categories that vice versa, but above all, that gives limit thought, question its position, its rise, to what Arfuch stands out, the privilege and interests, prejudices, voice of the other, that "giving the voice impulses with respect to analize to the protagonists is also what insists, empirical objects. The author in the Social Sciences, on that "return" stresses the need for the researcher of (or to) the biographical that for some to be positioned and to be clear with begins in the seventies as one of the his research objectives, so that the manifestations of the exhaustion of known subject (Vasilachis, 2006) is structuralism and its elusiveness of the the one who is heard, read; therefore subject and historicity" (2002, p. 187). It is from this logic that it is necessary to it is necessary to deconstruct the understand and apprehend from the terms, the concepts from the known subjects (Vasilachis, 2006), that concrete realities to address. Faced their realities are manifested from their with this, Bourdieu points out that words, voices, experiences and "society certainly has an objective experiences. It is necessary to find that structure, but it is no less true that it Vasilachis, quoting Flick, emphasizes is also composed, decisively, of that "among the most important representation and will..." (2008, p. perspectives and schools in qualitative 32). research stand out: 1) the grounded According to Knoblauch, Flick and theory, 2) the ethnomethodology and Maeder, "qualitative research is the analysis of the conversation, of supported and depends on a discourse and gender, 3) narrative conception oriented towards meaning, context, interpretation, understanding and reflexivity.
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019
It is therefore his rooting in the "the researcher must build a context interpretative paradigm, non-positivist, of intelligibility" (p. 186) from the that gives unity to qualitative methods" (quoted by Vasilachis, 2006, p. 50). subjective realities of known subjects. It should be clarified that this There is not only one qualitative research is qualitative, descriptive method but there are several, so there and interpretative. are also various qualitative strategies Before further describing the that are not independent of each other. research methodology, it is Qualitative research focuses not only necessary to make known the on objective and subjective realities, delimitation of the project, in order to but also delves into life experiences, understand the notion and response and to apprehend them, there are of techniques and methods adopted different procedures, techniques and in that work. tools for their knowledge and analysis, particularly biographical techniques, Delimitation of work which are the ones that allow us to Research work was carried out at reach directly to the known subject. Among the biographical techniques can San Carlos University of Guatemala be highlighted: life stories, life stories, Central Campus, which has 10 biographies, autobiographies, Faculties and 11 Schools, of these expressive documents, narratives, etc. the Faculty of Medicine and the (Vasilachis, 2006). School of Psychology are located in the Metropolitan University Center. Based on the previous and the object of Particularly we worked with Mayan the research project, it is proposed to university women, no distinction was approach methodologically from the made in the years they have been qualitative. While Mayan identity has studying at the University, nor the elements that make it noticeable type of careers or the Mayan people tangible, it also has a subjective to which they subscribe because constitution, and that this is not what they are trying to make visible, necessarily visible, which does not roughly speaking, is how they live detract from research but rather their university life and their Mayan strengthens it, which for Arfuch (2002) identity within the University, emphasizing their status as Mayan women and migrant.
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala
In this way the following questions arise developed: Structured Questionnaire how do indigenous migrant students Guide for Discussion Groups with build and/or strengthen their Mayan Mayan Women, Structured identity in the USAC? And, how do they Questionnaire Guide to the live their college life and what it entails Discussion Group with Mixed/Ladin in them and for them to study at the and Mayan Women. A questionnaire USAC? guide to six semi-structured interviews and a semi-structured To achieve this apprehension of the questionnaire guide for the two life reality of Maya identity of Mayan stories. university women who migrate for studies in the Central Campus USAC, Preparation and socialization of the following research techniques and calls methods are proposed.
The call for Maya, half-breed or Research methods and Ladin women students at USAC for techniques the discussion groups, was done
Research process was carried out in through social networks, website four phases: and email of the IIPS, and posters of the call were posted in the different Preparatory Phase academic faculties of the University. The research team of Sociological The research project was raised with Studies Area (AES by its acronym in the research team of the Institute for Spanish) was responsible for talking Political and Social Research (IIPS), to members of Student Associations some criteria of work and geographical of some academic units, such as delimitation were defined. They polled Agronomy, Dentistry, Engineering, and obtained contacts from student Mayan women at the USAC Central EFPEM, School of Political Science Campus for discussion groups. and the Association of University Students "Oliverio Castañeda de Preparation and validation of León" (AEU) about the activities that instruments would be carried out from the AES.
Four information gathering tools were
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019
Image No. 1 Posters of discussion groups with women students at USAC
Source: IIPS, Sociological Studies Area, 2019.
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala
were invited to the discussion groups. Only the Association of Engineering This strategy was effective, locating Students published the call for the and identifying them through their activities on its social networks, particularly on Facebook, activity Mayan clothing. aimed for students in the Health Field research Sciences Area and Technique. The AEU only socialized the call for a Surveys: the survey was carried out in discussion group on its social network the AEU "Oliverio Castañeda", also the Instagram. The Agronomy Student participation in some activities carried Association had posted the call for out by the same AEU, particularly in discussion groups on their Facebook the conversation "Let's talk about us page however for unknown reasons with us. The Public University and they deleted the post on their page Indigenous Women", in this activity, minutes later. The EFPEM-EBI some Mayan students for the Student Association was also discussion groups were contacted, contacted for the socialization of the however, no more women could be call for such discussion groups, but it contacted through them, because they was not published on its social did not know many Mayan students in networks. their faculty, from the Technical area, where there are few Mayan women. While it is true that the dissemination of calls on social media and in the Discussion groups: nine discussion buildings of academic units was groups were held with Mayan students, important, however, they were not as three groups were held at the School effective. Contact and participation of of Political Science, at the beginning most Mayan students, particularly two had been considered as a pilot from the academic units of the phase, however, the students Technical Area and Health Sciences, requested to make a third group of were achieved by the AES team's discussion with the students who study direct invitation strategy for several during in the morning and evening to days, Mayan students who wore their get to know each other and share their regional clothing were directly experiences. Two discussion groups addressed outside the faculties, they with students from the Technical and were asked for their contact and they
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019
Health Area, three discussion from the three academic areas of groups with students from the the USAC —Humanistic Social Humanistic Social Area and a Area, Health Sciences area, and discussion group with women both Technical Area. mixed and/or Ladinos and Maya
A third discussion group had been third discussion group in that area. planned for the Health Sciences and In two discussion groups of the Technical areas, proposed by Humanistic Social Area, two young Pharmacy and Veterinary students, Mayas (participated in different due to academic reasons they were discussion groups) and a young unable to attend to the scheduled mestiza woman, an EFPEM student groups. But, by academic load, - participated. Both young Mayan and according to what the students said the young mestiza woman -, they were not able to organize the contributed a lot to the
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala discussion. Initially, discussion groups are not stranger to social and student were planned only for Mayan women, interactions and relationships with however, it just limited the analysis of Mayan and non-Mayan men and non- Mayan women identity because they Mayan women.
Image No. 3 Discussión Group with Mayan woman student at USAC
Source: IIPS, Sociological Studies Area, 2019. dialogue and knowledge of the Regarding to the discussion group perspective of other non-Mayan with mestizo/Ladino women, at first, it women regarding to identity at the had been proposed that this group University. There were six should be aimed at mestizo women or assistants, three Mayan women and Ladino, however, it was reassessed three mestizo women. The three and was suggested that was important Mayan women had already to have a discussion with diverse participated in previous discussion women students in the USAC, and groups. These students were from above all because of the interest Political Science School, Social some Mayan women showed in Work and Pharmacy. 21
Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019
Image No. 4 Discussion group with half-breed/ladino women students at USAC.
Source: IIPS, Sociological Studies Area, 2019.
The parameters of Mayan includes from 15 to 24 years, students for discussion groups however, the range varies by were: country, in the case of Guatemala, a) Being a woman and self- the young population is 15 to 29 identifying as Maya or years old. But in the case of the indigenous Mayan university student population b) Being a migrant, that is, that in most cases they enter the the student comes and University late, for several factors travels commonly or (such as economic, social, cultural, frequently to her hometown. distance, etc.) which are involved in c) Being a USAC college their academic training, so age in student, particularly from this case was not precisely a Central Campus. necessary parameter to be met. d) Being a Mayan "young", Semi-structured interviews: From the according to the United discussion groups, six Mayan women Nations (UN), being young
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala were contacted to be interviewed. Life Stories: The interview was Three of them from Humanistic Social fundamental to identify the student for Area and three from Health Sciences her life story, the six students and/or Technical areas. These interviewed showed availability and interviews are not intended to collaboration for any activity that took statistically represent the universe of place from the research project, and Mayan student women of USAC however, by time and resources the Central Campus, nor it is intended to research team was programmed only generate statistical data to quantify for two life stories. Both students self- students in each academic unit, nor in identify as Maya kaqchikel, from the area of studies (Social Chimaltenango and San Juan Humanistic, Health Sciences and/or Sacatepéquez. Technical), since this work gives account of qualitative data, data and General statistical data of USAC information of tangible realities that are internalized and subjective, and According to data from the Statistics also inversely. From these interviews Section of the Registration and were selected the young women who Statistic Office USAC, between the told their lives histories. years 2010 to 2015, students enrolled at central campus were increasing. Parameters of Mayan women However, as of 2016, the number of students interviewed: students enrolled declined as in 2017; in 2018 it rose, although it was not a) Have participated in the significant compared to the rise years, discussion groups and this year, 2019, the total number b) Maya or indigenous self- of students enrolled in the Central identification Campus dropped dramatically compared to the years of increase in c) Being a migrant by academic students enrolled. As for student studies, that is, they commonly enrolled in Regional Centers, from travel from their communities by 2010 to 2015 it was an increase, it higher education in the capital had a decline in 2016, rising in 2018, city. surpassing the years of rise; but in 2019 it declined significantly. See d) Availability and openness for the Chart No.1. interview.
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019
Chart No. 1
Source:Made by Sociological Studies Area –AES- from the data of the Statistic Section of Registration and Statistic Office of USAC, 2018 and 2019—AES—
The growth of students enrolled in the statistical data from Statistical Section Regional Centers, can be due to the of the Registration and Statistics decentralization of public higher Office, 2018, there are 21 Regional education in the country, however, Centers at the national level. this decentralization was not According to official data from the homogeneous, thus concentrating Statistics Section of the Department of much of the careers in the Central Registration and Statistics, published Campus, particularly those related to in May 2019, at the university's the Health Sciences Area and national level, of that year 187,014 Technical Area. This was one of the students were enrolled, depending on observations made by the Mayan admission category (first semester women students who participated, freshman, regular/re-entry, students highlighting that, in the Regional pending general and supplementary Centers, apart from not having a exams). Of this total, 52.97% are from variety of career options, they are also the Central Campus for example not provided with the information. 99,070 students and 47.03% of According to the USAC General departmental centers equivalent to Organization Chart of 2018, and 87,944 students. Depending on the
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala category of admission of students From 2010 to 2017, the total number enrolled in the Campus, 9.10% are of USAC students, nationally and first semester freshman and 65.36% Central Campus, were broken down are re-entry; however, these data are by gender, ethnicity and age not classified by gender, ethnicity and categories. Therefore, for this age. research work was based on the data for the year of 2017. The total numbers of students enrolled in 2018 were 214,768 In 2017, the total number of students nationwide. Of this figure students enrolled nationally were 110,756 were registered in the 187,976, of this total 56.18% was Central Campus, thus representing enrolled in Central Campus, in other the total, 51.57%, taking into account words 105,598 students. According the Faculty of Medical Sciences, the to gender, of the total number of Schools of Psychological Science students enrolled in the Central and the Higher School of Art. Campus, 52.50% are women and However, this data has not yet been 47.50% are men. See Chart No. 2. broken down by origin or ethnic affiliation. Chart No. 2
Source: Made by Sociological Studies Area –AES- from the data of the Statistic Section of Registration and Statistic Office, USAC, 2018. 25
Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019
Chart No. 2 did not include 2019 identified as Xinca; 0.04% as data, because the Department of Garífuna; 38.58% as ladino, 5.04% as Registration and Statistics has not half-breed and 8.10% who did not published the record of students self-identify with any people. See enrolled this year, according to Chart No. 3. gender. Of the total women students, 52.50%, Nationally, of the students enrolled registered in Central Campus in 2017, in 2017, 11.71% self-identify as 3.55% self-identify as Maya, 0.04% as Maya, 0.09% as a Xinca, 0.07% as Xinca, and 0.04% as Garífuna, Garífuna, 61.02% as ladino, 7.91% 37.70% as Ladina, 4.07% as half- as half-breed and 19.20% who did breed and 7.10% were not identified not identify with any people. At the with any people. Central Campus, 4.37% are
Chart No. 3
0
Source: Made by Sociological Studies Area –AES- from the data of the Statistic Section of Registration and Statistic Office USAC, 2018.
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala
Access to higher education for education has had ascent and Mayan population is reduced, decline, but the number of Mayan compared to ladino; however, men in USAC has always been access to higher education has greater than Mayan women. See been greater for Mayan men. chart No. 4. Although in both, access to higher
Chart No. 4
Source: Developed by the Sociological Studies Area (AES) from data from the Statistics Section of the Department of Registration and Statistics of the USAC, 2018.
This Chart No. 4 makes visible the process they deny or hide their small number of Mayan women in identity, as later it will be explained. the academic units of Central Or, students who had not identified Campus, however, this data could themselves as Maya at the time of increase or decrease as they their registration but who in the strengthen their Mayan identity. That course of their studies they self- is, it could be that during the identify as Maya or are in search of admissions Mayan students have their identity. identified as Maya but in their study
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Chart No. 5
Source: Developed by the Sociological Studies Area (AES) from data from the Statistics Section of the Department of Registration and Statistics of the USAC, 2018 and 2019.
Chart No. 5 highlights the access of a construction and differentiation women students in distinct rooted in the population in which academic units in the USAC Central women do not have skills or are unfit Campus. Most women students are for such careers. Also adding the concentrated in the Humanistic high cost to study such careers. Social Area, and well below the total And this differentiation is even more are students from the Health marked in Mayan women, Sciences Area and finally those highlighting the disadvantages to studying in the Technical Area. This responds not to the inability or them by being Mayan women and interest of students in health and being from places outside the capital technical careers, but, in the sexist city of Guatemala. See Chart No. 6. social imagination, in which there is
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala
Chart No. 6
Source: Developed by the Sociological Studies Area (AES) from data from the Statistics Section of the Department of Registration and Statistics of the USAC, 2018.
Central Campus will be considered. Based on data and statistical tables, beyond posing statistical Description and characterization representativeness, this work of participating Mayan students reveals this process of Mayan identity in students who migrate for From the 9 discussion groups university studies in the Central conducted between the months of Campus of USAC. Subjectivities and February, March and April 2019; 49 objectivities they live as Mayan students participated and supported by women and also being from Mayan 4 Mayan moderators. Of the total peoples or communities outside participants, 43 were Mayan women, 1 Guatemala City. Regarding to the was half-breed woman, 3 ladino women information, characteristics and data and 2 Mayan men. Chart No. 1. obtained from students who participated to analyze the Mayan identity of women students in the
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Chart No. 1
Discussion Groups Particitants Identity Participants Mayan woman 43 Ladino woman 3 Half-breed woman 1 Mayan men 2 Total 49
Source: Developed by the Sociological Studies Area (AES) from record of participation of the student discussion groups, IIPS, 2019.
Chart No. 2 Languages spoken by the participatnsduring the discussion groups
Other Mother Tongue Number Number Languages Achí 1 Mayan Languages Tzutujil 2 Achí — kaqchikel 1 Spanish 18 Kaqchikel 10 K’iche’ 5 kaqchikel — Inglés 1 Poqomchi-k’iche’ 1 Q’eqchi’ 2 Kaqchikel 20 K’iche’ 1 Poqomam 2 Tz’utujil 1 Total 49 Subtotal 16 Foreign Languages English 2 Total 18
Source: Developed by the Sociological Studies Area (AES) from record of participation of the student discussion groups, IIPS, 2019.
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Most of the students who the distance of the Central Campus, participated in the discussion groups most, choose to study Regional confirm that they speak a Mayan Centers, although they do, but language as their mother tongue: 20 careers that are not necessarily of students said they speak Kaqchikel, interest to them. 18 students indicated that their mother tongue was Spanish, of this In the "other speaking languages" total, 4 Ladino students and/or half- category, out of 49 students who breed woman their mother tongue is participated in the discussion Spanish, 5 students indicated that groups, 16 students confirm that their mother tongue is K'iche', while they speak a Mayan language and 2 two students said that their mother students indicate that they speak tongue is Tz'utujil and Poqomam, 1 English, as their second language. student stressed that her mother Of all women and men students who tongue is Achí and last, one indicated that Poqomchi and K'iche' participated, 6 have Mayan names are their mother tongues. and of that total participation, 35 have Mayan surnames. In the It can be relatively inferred that the research report students were given geographical and economic factor fictitious names, some were are some indicators that determine proposed by the students the mobility dynamics of Mayan themselves, as in interviews and life women to the USAC Central stories. Campus. Of those who participated, they mostly come from the Place of origin, 15 students are from departments of Chimaltenango, the department of Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez and some 12 students are from Guatemala, 7 municipalities of the department of students are from Sacatepéquez, 5 Guatemala, for example, San Juan students are from Quiché, 2 from Sacatepéquez, which are located a Escuintla, 1 student if from Sololá relatively short distance from the and finally Totonicapán, metropolitan area of Guatemala. Suchitepéquez, Alta Verapaz and Compared to departments in other Baja Verapaz there were only 1 regions, their participation is student for each department. See reduced. It can be inferred that, by map No. 1.
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Map No. 1 Places of origin of students who participated in discussion groups
u
Source: Developed by Sociological Studies Area (AES) from record of participation of the student discussion groups, IIPS, 2019.
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Chart No. 3 Academic Units to which participants in the discussion groups belongs
Academic Units/careers Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnic Bachelor Degree in Zootechnic 1 Faculty of Agronomy 1 Agronomical Engineering in Agricultural Production Systems
Agronomical Engineer in Renewable Natural Resources. 1 Engineering in agrarian and forestry Industry 1 Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Bachelor degree in Biological Chemical 1 Bachelor degree in Biology 2 Bachelor degree in nutrition 2 Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences Bachelor degree in Legal and Social Sciences 3 Faculty of Humanities Bachelor degree in Natural Sciences and Environmental Education 1 School of Political Sciences Bachelor degree International Relations 8 Bachelor degree in Political Science 2 Bachelor degree in Sociology 2 School of Social Work Bachelor degree in Social Work 2 School of History Bachelor degree in History 1 Training College of Secondary Education Teachers –EFPEM- Bachelor degree in Intercultural Bilingual Education with emphasis in Mayan Culture –EBI – (by its acronym in Spanish) 20
Language Learning Center - CALUSAC - (by its acronym in Spanish) 1 Total 49
Source: Developed by the Sociological Studies Area (AES) from record of participation of the student discussion groups, IIPS, 2019. 33
Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019
Chapter I
Theoretical and conceptual analysis of Mayan identity in Guatemala
This section seeks to place the and approaching to the notion of notion of Maya identity and self- identity is impossible without refer identification in Guatemala, and highlight that there is a particularly in the contemporaneity multiplicity of (re) significance not of Mayan women youth. A critical only academic but also popular deconstruction of the term is about the term of identity, but what proposed from theoretical makes all these notions converge is contributions, but above all apart precisely the history, the historical from the very realities of Mayan context through which Mayan women students of the USAC. In populations have crossed and lived. other words, in this section dialogues and understanding of the This history or the historical contexts term of identity will be carried out of Mayan populations are essential through academic contributions and to understand the dynamics and (re) Mayan daily life. identity constructions in a
The Maya identity multicultural and multi-ethnic country, but with a social structure Based on the theoretical and that operates historically under conceptual contributions of Laclau, racist and racialistic logic (Casaús, Bourdieu and other authors 2019) and that seeks to be mentioned above —in the first part invisibility through "Guatemalan of this paper—it can be noted that democracy". the term of Mayan identity obeys to difference and equivalence (Derrida, However, to understand this logic, 1989; Laclau 1993, 1996, 1999, this work will highlight the notion of 2004, 2015) not only of objective Mayan identity for Mayan students elements but subjective in the in the USAC. This work is not population’s identity (Demetrio Cojti, intended to give a quantitative 1991, 1994, 1997, 2018), in this reading but rather a qualitative and case, concerning to Maya interpretative contribution to population, however, understanding understand the logic of subsistence,
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permanence, rebellion, resistance over the past two centuries […] and strengthening of Mayan These notions are constructed from identity in the students of Central hegemonic places and serve to Campus. establish and shape government’s systems or control over the The notion of Mayan identity population. Those are concepts related with the justification and use The importance of highlight the of violence to contain protest of term "Mayan identity" precisely under-subalternized population. obeys the ways in which Mayan (Esquit, 2014, p. 73) identities are built, deconstructed, rebuilt and strengthened or denied, Identity is not something static, it hidden, etc. in Guatemala's only also cannot be defined in a single public university, in this case from way and being homogenized, that Mayan students. is, there is no single conceptualization of this term, It should be noted that the term because the term of identity referring to being Maya in several encompasses various forms of Mayan people is naturalib', a conceptualizations and different category which refers to being ways of assuming it, in it there is an natural, that is, the person who is infinity of manifestations and attached to Mother Earth, to the demands that are not necessarily ancestral worldview, to collective, equivalent — in the term of Ernesto communal and individual daily life. Laclau— , since historical conditions This reflection was highlighted in and contexts have been varied, in the discussions among Mayan the case of young women students, students. they have a notion of identity according to their life lessons, Meanwhile dominant, indigenous, experiences, conditions and Mayan and Indian concepts are livelihoods that has challenged them constituted in the national history. cultural homogenization, racism and The content of each concept is discrimination in the country, closely linked to the way in which especially in different areas which the state and hegemonic ideas they frequent. about Guatemala were constructed as national community It should be clarified that living
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 conditions are not what define been refused o r is far from the notion identity, although they condition it, of the term identity, especially in but, it is the historical academic and research centers. consciousness, of its origins and Resuming Laclau's ideas (2015) original roots, that cause someone about popular identity, he emphasizes to self-identify and vindicate through that popular identity becomes objective and subjective cultural increasingly complete from an elements, that is, "consciousness is extensive point of view, since it nothing but the dialectic of the represents a considerable group of medium and action" (Bourdieu, demands; but it becomes intensively 2008, p. 46), but supported, and poorer, because it must be stripped of inculcated in family, community and particular content in order to groups of friendships" etc. encompass social demands that are totally heterogeneous to each other. These cultural elements about That is: a popular identity functions as identity are also political because a trending empty signifier (p.125). every historical manifestation that claims its survival and existence in Mayan identity then breaks with the societies, is a political struggle, so it silence that has promulgated is much more relevant to talk about Eurocentric history, homogenizing "historical pluralism" (Segato, 2010), history. In the case of Mayan women because there is a diversity of students, their identity has been histories as native peoples in Latin forged through their family and in America, in this case in Guatemala. some cases through educational authorities (although very minimal); In the case of identity, it is a term however, it should be clarified that, in that implies an empty signifier families, who transmit and strengthen because several struggles and their identity are mother and father, demands have been assumed and however, grandmothers and overshadowed within this term, grandparents have taken that’s why talking about identity in responsibility in this transmission and social imaginary implies a cultural it is crucial to highlight, especially the identity because the demands and contributions of grandmothers, who political struggles that the identity are at the core of self-identification implies have been overshadowed, and strengthening of Mayan those are the differences that have
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identity of young woman. The specific of peoples, among others. knowledge of grandparents, -this The ethnic definition of groups is not subject will be deepened later- , something impassive but is loaded has been primordial for several with conditionings that specify what Mayan students to feel proud and is possible or impossible for Mayan identified with the Maya; first of all, people in the Guatemalan’s case. to return to their roots and The minimal meaning that carries elements of identity such as the indigenous concept from the Mayan language and clothing, voice of dominant groups, entails an which in their daily lives, in some historical power and fundamentally cases, in their families had not in the nationalist imaginary. From been transmitted to them, due to the privileged place of many the racism and discrimination politicians and intellectuals of suffered by their parents in their edestism, indigenous concept is childhood and youth, and as used to take power away from shelter and protection for their peoples or to legitimize control over sons and daughters, particularly in the population that integrates it [...] schools , they decided not to teach In view of this one may wonder them their mother tongue and whether the Mayan and indigenous wear their Mayan clothing. concepts can be used as synonyms, if the answer is positive then Maya Identity is not only an individual becomes a local way of expressing construction and identification but or talking about the indigenous. In also collective-community, based this sense it is to give specificity to on the inheritances and roots of the concept, but in strict terms or in Mayan native peoples before and a structure of domination, the Mayas after colonization transmitted from continue to be explained and treated generation to generation, as minorities. (Esquit, 2014, pp. 76- particularly through social, political, 77). cultural and economic institutions,
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Chapter II
Mayan identity of Women in Higher Education
Identity is built through the articulation of the term Mayan identity, it is of various institutions, their discursive emphasized that within this term there constructions, symbolic and historical, are different looks, readings and ways sociopolitical and cultural beliefs of perceiving, defining and living transmitted in different ways and Mayan identity and self-identification, through various means, such as especially from youth; in this case, through Mayan languages, fabrics, from Mayan women, who are mostly clothing, surnames, accents, those who make visible, give and individual and collective practices, allow the reading of the original roots, such as gastronomy, patron saint by using their clothing and/ or festivities, fairs, music, poetry, languages in mostly non-indigenous painting, dance, etc., (Discussion spaces, such as the USAC. In other groups, 2019). words, this conception of identity from students reveals the different realities It is not intended to raise a notion of and ways of naming, assuming and identity, but rather to make visible living the Mayan identity in mostly that, within the term of Mayan identity non-Maya spaces. there are infinity of conceptions, notions and everyday-community The notion of Mayan identity from the realities in this regard. contributions and discussions generated by Mayan university Whie it is true, that the term of identity women cannot also be homogenized has been addressed from the for the entire Mayan population, academy from social organizations however, they are contributions to and movements, non-governmental understand and make visible that organizations (NGOs), international identity cannot be defined, assumed organizations, etc., and from different and lived in a homogeneous way, but theorethical and methodological rather, it questions, sums and perspectives. However, beyond of want to rise a single conceptualization
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contributes to the plurality of ways to offspring in academic college spaces identify as Maya in Guatemala and like the USAC. specifically contribute to discussions about conditions and consequences of The sense of community and racist social structures, such as collectivity is manifested in students Guatemala, towards the original in different academic units of the populations. University, they highlight that being in a mostly non-indigenous space, Mayan identities of contemporary they feel the need to be together, to generations were responding to a) the seek Mayan allies in the classrooms pre- and post-colonial past, and b) to to face the different inequalities and the contemporary history: pre and racism that is lived in the University, post-Internal Armed Conflict, signing by the fact that they are Mayan of the Peace Agreement, etc. The women —this student dynamic will diverse political and economic crisis be addressed in the following that have been generated at national sections, but it is inevitable to refer, and international level, particularly that the sense of community is also from the State, have involved racism, manifested in Mayan students at the genocide and diverse exclusions university— so it is more feasible for towards indigenous populations and them to work with Maya friends, and which have been legalized by a legal thus feel less or face in a better way framework justified in the social order, with the derogatory actions and thus dissimulating control over the gestures towards them both outside territories, bodies and lives of and inside the university classrooms indigenous peoples (Foucault, 1998). particularly in the early first years of For this reason, in previous lines it is college. emphasized that Mayan identity, rather than cultural is a political Mayan identity for students is an identity, a fight and political identity that has been brought with it vindication, which has involved not since born; it is the representation only resistance but has also involved and recognition of a Mayan actions, proposals and community civilization and all its knowledge and accompaniment, and one of the contributions to humanity. This examples is Mayan identity itself from identity differentiates the rest of the youth, in this case from women, who populations and/or identities make visible that history and ancient
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 since there are modes and ways of crisis, since in every crisis, revolts, perceiving and living the social and emancipations, etc., societies are community reality of being Maya and not again or have the same order it is governed by a worldview of life that they had before the crisis with norms, principles and values (Laclau, 2015), in this sense, Mayan where not only the individual is identity has been reconfigured at all important but also the community, sociopolitical, economic, cultural having relevance all the beings who critical moments —generated during inhabit Mother Earth and Universe, the process of colonization and from this way of seeing the world post-colonization— in Guatemala, nature and all its elements are but, the nodal point of identity, in essential parts of life, every life is part terms of Laclau (2015) is the history of a cosmos, and to recognize and of Mayan population itself. show respect, there are a whole series of activities and ceremonies as Likewise, the fabrics and the an offering and gratitude; these various clothing of Mayan peoples activities are part of Mayan spirituality, are relevant, because through them and their reading can be done through is referenced and located to which the Mayan calendar. peoples or communities these colors, fabrics among other, belong Most of this Mayan knowledge has or are represented. been transmitted, orally, since by the same process of colonization all this The sense of belonging to a territory knowledge was denied and discarded, also contributes to identity, however, and through mechanisms of not necessarily being outside that resistance and survival of the peoples territory, identity changes or who could be preserved in their disappears, but rather, in the case of memory such knowledge, thus Mayan women students who becoming relevant in this way, the oral migrate for university studies, transmission of history. Mayan identity is gaining greater strength, because being far from its Identity is achieved as history is known; identity is an historical village implies to stop frequenting construct, so it cannot be static, since and to stop doing what in daily life in it is constantly changing and mainly a village or community is done, for when there are ruptures and social example, market days, fairs, family
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala and/or neighbors visits, etc., then, it having a Mayan surname a person becomes a necessity to travel to your would self-identifies as Maya. These village in order to not to feel outside of are some of the consequences of that community dynamic. racism and structural discrimination in the other and "My mom and dad have attached to Guatemala towards another history, they have always said that, by (see Segato 2010, 2011), since knowing our history we have identity, it has generated the denial or rejection something much necessary, and then of self-identification as Xinca, Garífuna the term Maya, as my dad told us or Maya in the country. wherever you go, you are Maya [...]" Today, Mayan names at the University (Discussion group Health Sciences have been much more visible and Area and Technical Area, 2019). remarkable. In the discussion groups "Since I came from Momostenango, 12% of participants had Mayan names, my dad always said to me: ‘never and among the same woman students there was interest in knowing the forget where you come from' [...]" (Discussion Group, Humanistic Social meaning of these names so they also Area, 2019). expressed joy for knowing and learn from classmates who have represented When we hang out all together my and made visible Mayan peoples in parents always emphasize to us that academic spaces such as the USAC we should not forget that we carry a through their names and surnames. responsibility, as they are both Maya, The re-encounter and coexistence in they say: “we must follow that discussion groups, was for the students sequence, that we should not lose it, the generation and strengthening of because then all that our ancestors emotional ties between them and above did was for nothing [...] (Discussion all to be even more interested in their group Area of Health Sciences and experiences by assuming their Mayan Technical Area, 2019). identity inside and outside the University. Surnames and names also make reference to Mayan identity, Mayan Some students interviewed emphasized woman students highlight the that, from discussion groups, talks and importance of these identity discussions about the identity of Mayan references, although it does not women and the experiences they have necessary imply whether or not had in their lives in maintaining and manifesting their Mayan identity inside
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and outside the University has been antagonism of ethical sensitivities and a necessity that among them they political attitudes, but which shares an had not socialized or questioned, history. This perspective leads us to and which have now been more survive the expression "one culture" frequent in their analyses and by the expression "one people", living discussions about it. subject of an history in the midst of joints and exchanges that, rather than Mayan identity is then, a term where interculturality, designs inter- multiple conceptions of who and historicity. What identifies this where one is converge, how they collective subject, this people, is not a represent their original roots and stable cultural heritage, of fixed above all the interest of making a contents, but the self-perception that millennial population visible. The comes from its members to share a history and knowledge of the common history, which comes from a ancestral origins of Mayan people past and is aimed to a future [...]. has been fundamental to this identity remain today, it is not only a Elements of identity and their right but is the manifestation of the forms of apprehension life itself of population, since as Rita Segato (2010) indicates: To assume the Mayan identity for many young Mayan women in the Custom can be changed and is USAC is to make visible and indeed constantly changed, because disseminate a millennial history that the permanence of an entire people can be read in their clothing, fabrics, does not depend on the repetition of physical features, accents and their practices or the immobility of especially on the fabrics of the their ideas. We thus release the garments of different peoples, moorings that underpin identity, gastronomy, festivals and patron saint without dispensing but referring it to or communal fairs , land and territory, the notion of people, as a historical diverse forms of art, dance and sports vector, as a collective agent of an such as music, painting, poetry, historical project, which is perceived football, etc., Mayan worldview, from a common past and also spirituality and calendar, customs and building in a common future, through values from family and community, an internal plot that does not stories, legends and Mayan oral dispense the conflict of interest and 42
Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala fables among others (Discussion even the mode of use will depend Groups, 2019). on the linguistic people which it belongs. This clothing is diverse as However, carrying and assuming the population itself; however, as Mayan identity has involved diverse the students point out, clothing not physical, psychological and only refers the village, territory, and symbolic violence against Mayans the place of origin but also to a among others. This analysis whole historical origin, to the history highlights the significance of some of the original peoples before and of the objective and subjective after colonization. They also elements of Mayan identity for represent daily life through the Mayan women students and also fabrics, colors of the huipiles, cortes, what it has involved in them to sashes, etc. The activities that take assume and live their identity in the place in the villages, the relationship University. Some of Mayan identity and closeness between Mother elements were pointed out because Nature, the cosmos, the Mayan these were the ones that they weather (read through the Mayan highlighted as an immediate reason calendar), Mayan days and for pride, happiness and nahuales are also highlighted in the representation of their ancestors in embroidery, fabrics and colors of the University, and because these Mayan clothing. elements were also for which they feel or felt questioned, observed and Most of the Mayan women students excluded in the University, in who participated in the discussion classrooms, by their classmates, groups and interviews emphasized professors and workers of the that clothing is part of them, it is University (guards, gardeners, what objectively identifies them cleaning personnel, etc.). before other non-Mayan people or populations, which makes them Mayan clothing: resistance "different" but at the same time it is and ancestral Reading the one that makes them connect with their past, with their indigenous Mayan clothing (in women, usually: origins, sharing a similarity between a) huipil or blouse, b) corte: which is different Mayan populations; while it the skirt tied with a sash. The length is true that each mayan population of the corte and huipil, colors and
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 have particular clothing and colors it place and that I got so far! The use of does not mean difference but different huipiles or cortes from equivalences which conform Mayan different peoples does not imply a population. break with their community or people but rather they creates bonds I am an indigenous woman, kaqchikel, I identify myself as between communities and peoples even whne they have specific features indigenous by the way I speak, above all I identify myself as an indigenous such as language, gastronomy, being, because I always try to make clothing, etc. For example, the use of our culture stand out, because I feel different clothing by young women that wearing these clothes my culture even without being from these has a voice, and if I do not use it linguistic communities, they generate people would not know who I am [...] I a link and a re-knowledge and feel that when I wear these clothes, I accompaniment between them, can say I'm indigenous, I show the breaking paradigms that may exist in culture I have. (ECP Discussion the indigenous social imaginary. Group, 2019) In the case of Ixmukané, her mother is There is special clothing for special or kaqchikel and her father q'eqchi, and important occasions which is only geographically and linguistically they used in such activities or festivities. are from different places, her mother Some students emphasized that when is from Técpan and her father from they went to study for the first time at Cobán, however, coming from the University, they chose their special geographically different places, clothing and their favorite colors, since Ixmukané identifies herself with both it was to be a special day "the first day linguistic peoples and wears both the of college", as Ixmukané and Lesly Kaqchikel and q'eqchi custome. manifest: Territory becomes part of the identity when it has cultural and political "During my first days, I wore a symbolic meanings, so identity is not costume from San Juan Chamelco, delimited to the geographical territory Alta Verapaz [...]" but to the territory creator of cohesion and symbolic links and objectives in [...] today I wear my clothes, and I put Mayan populations. on the sanjuanero, I left my house wearing my sanjuanero suit, the When there are meetings at the clothing of my people, and I said well, School of Biology and I come wearing it is like that I’m going to represent it my regional clothes, so people identify and they will look that I am from that 44
Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala
if you do not come from your parents? where I from or which place I am from, (Ch’umil’, Discussion Group, 2019) you do not necessary need to be born in such place, I was not born in Feeling pride and happiness bearing Cobán, I was not born in Tecpan, but I clothing at the university is one of the identify myself with both main emotions that the Mayan geographically places, I identify a lot students highlighted, especially because I have many of my childhood because for them in clothing the memories in these two places, history of an entire civilization and the basically of all my childhood, because whole Mayan worldview can be read, I always traveled to there, always […] the bond with Mother Nature and its (Ixmukané, interview, 2019) meaning in their daily life. The majority of Mayan students, from a young age The same occur with Ch’umil’, for her, dressed them with Mayan clothing, beyond the geographical place, what changing or using other clothes identify her is the entire history of her causes them discomfort. Mayan roots and which has been transmitted through her mother and Since I was a little girl, I use my father. Mayan clothing, my mon is from Mayan origin and my father too, and I am from here and from there; I have also all my family, then I would not difficulties describing where I come wear other kind of clothes […] I really from, because my mother is from appreciate my clothing cause I like so Quiché and my father from San much wearing it, it is like something Cristóbal, Alta Verapaz, in the end I very significant for me, because is from both places, I was not born in how I feel assured, it is how I can be San Cristóbal, I was born in casual, because I realized that when I Guatemala city, but I am registered in wear my clothing, I feel safe and talk San Cristóbal, identity is the way of life in a confident way, and that all the and the ability of define who I am, things I do make me feel self-assured. based on what I have learned, what I It is not about I feel weakness wearing have been taught and the history of other kind of clothes, but it is not the my family since my origin, because I same I do not feel comfortable, so I have seen somebody say “ah yes, my really value it a lot […] (Madeline, parents are indigenous”, then there is interview, 2019). To several Maya a gap of identity, who are you then?
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studying at university has been a generated from what is indicated and dream and when they are admitted, socialized by Mayan woman students they feel proud to study in the only about their identity. According to the public university and above all distributions of Maya students by represent and make their people area of Central Campus in the USAC, visible in this academic institution. For in the Humanistic Social Area there that reason, some women students are more Mayan women students did not doubt whether or not wear representing 84% of the total Mayan their clothing, since they had clarity women in the Central Campus, while about who they were and why it was an 11% in Health Sciences Area and important to be themselves in the a 5% in the Technical Area. university, to understand and admit However, for research purposes differences has not been easy for these latter Areas are taken or many Maya students, since grouped, not only by the number of differences should not be reason for student but because they differ from inequality, racism either the Humanistic Social Area, so much discrimination, but rather purpose for in courses, laboratories, fieldwork, exchanges and coexistences. The and even theoretical and university has generated changes methodological approach, etc. and contributions about the Racism: record in the human perspective and understanding of social relations and therefore on the body and mind historical exclusions to which have Historical memory is also in the been limited and obliged to live the record that bodies make; bodies Maya, xinca and garífuna populations enunciate, transmit diverse historical in Guatemala. This analysis will be and current codes that need to be detailed in subsequent sections. understood and read in a way how Experiences about the use of they are situated in history. To understand and analyze bodies as Mayan clothing at San Carlos entities that are codified and University of Guatemala hierarchical is also to understand the The use of Mayan clothing at the social reality manifested in them, in University, particularly in the Central how societies are built and above all Campus varies according to how they are understood. The academic units, this analysis is necessity to talk about bodies makes
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala us to understand how racism Particularly the Mayan students from operates and manifest in societies Faculties of Technical and Health that infringe people from physical Area, are forced to wear other clothes features, cultural, etc., how domains such as “pants”, “half-breed clothing” operate over them (Foucault, 2000). especially when there are And that precisely, these bodies, in laboratories, fieldwork and modules the case of indigenous populations, (farms tours, companies, etc., to are seen as subaltern subjects that apply the knowledge of theoretical cannot express or speak and who are and practical application to individual rejected, despised, and unseen, and and groups) where there are for that reason they must be lineaments, requirements, protocols, recognized (Spivak, 1998). This logic and obligatory academic standards is the one that is intended to break, which women students must fulfil for reading these codifications that have physical security, academic and been made to the bodies, especially professional training. of Maya women, through the experiences of Maya students. For Before the first laboratory, with Ijá, a that reason this section will friend who was part of the discussion emphasize about the feeling of group. We were talking with her about women bodies who whether or not if we could ask about let us wear our wear their Mayan clothes at the regional clothes into the lab, but there university. was a previous talk –before to enter into the laboratory-, professors said Studies about bodies and emotions in that we could not wear other kinds of social sciences have had a boom clothes, they mentioned skirts or especially in countries where panties, they did not mention Mayan dictatorships materialized in clothing but in a clearly way they said genocide, torture, sexual and that if we enter in and they did not psychological abuse, etc. (Casaús, notice -because they look at us 2006, 1998). before to enter into lab and check if As well was indicated above, we wear closed shoes- if we enter in depending on the careers studied by and they did not note it happen, then Mayan women in the USAC the it was on our own responsibility frequency of using their Mayan whatever accident that could happen, clothing is marked. then we looked at each other, - cause
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if the skin is exposed we can burn deconstruction tha youth is assuming, and acquire even a type of cancer and it is highlighted in some because the substances that are interventions in discussion groups worked with, the majority of these are and interviews, where they carcinogen… there are other volatile sometimes use the term "typical substances which are only inhaled… costume" but then they rectify and they can be very dangerous <
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historical record in the indígena wore uniform, neither in both individual-collective memory, likewise secondary and high school, the and historical record of the multiple uniform always was Mayan clothes, I disposessions and violence suffered just wore jeans during my internships by peoples and particularly indigenous days, until there I started to wear women (Aura Cumes 2014, Emma jeans, because since I was child I Chirix 2012), this dispossessing is always wore my regional clothes […] I what causes fear, insecurity, and feel more confident using my clothes, I chiefly discomfort in front of mostly like it and I feel more comfortable. non-indigenous situations and spaces. (Carolina, interview 2019).
In the first and second semester it was This discomfort they manifest is only twice a week, then three days because they feel strange and when I wore my regional clothes and unconnected with other clothes than two days when I dind’t, but this their own, they manifested not to feel semester was Monday to Friday, I had as themselves, and however, they laboratory every day, this year I will understand that was necessary to not wear much my regional clothes, wear such clothes in laboratories or but now that we just have finished, I field tours for self-safety. For some can already wear my clothes I feel students this change of clothing more comfortable. (Madeline, becomes normal, but not for others, interview 2019). who always wear them regional clothes, that when they leave their Sometimes I do internships in classes they change clothes and use Agronomy and Engineering Faculties, their regional clothes again. Such as it is not common the days when I wear Carolina highlights: jeans, cause it is a matter of safety, also because if I wear my regional “I don’t feel comfortable, and I don’t clothes and if I work with reagents I feel safe, I do not why, maybe can damage my body… maybe because I never have worn pants accidents would not occur, but we can before. I do not feel well, I feel a little follow the rules given by each faculty, uncomfortable, just like I already want in my case, in Engineering the rules to take this off or sometimes I come in are using industrial shoes, helmet and trousers and I also bring my regional obviously I have to wear jeans […]. clothes, when the practice ends I go to During elementary school I never the restroom and change it, then it
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is something like “I am already, I am group ECP, 2019). I have a lot of normal”. (Interview, 2019). Whereas experiences, I started here to study, I for some (although it is relative, since it have always been without regional depends on the case and the context clothing, and that is true. I have a in which students have lived and the classmate who wore regional clothing, spaces they frequent), Mayan woman she is from Sololá, and I had hanged who do not commonly wear their out with her, and she asked me why I regional clothes say they do not feel or did not wear my regional clothes. My have discomfort since they are parents did not instill me to wear the familiar with the use of another regional clothing always, since I was clothes (trousers), (opposite case of child I wore t-shirt and shorts instead of those woman who since child wore huipil and corte, for more comfort. their regional clothes), but also there When I came to the city I had a bad are Mayan students who prefer not to experience, I usually wore my regional be known or seen with their Mayan clothes and I lived in zone 21, coming clothes for fear of being discriminated. and going on transurbano, when I leave the house I can feel fear that Personally my whole life, when I lived everyone see me walking on the in Quiche until I graduated from high street, on the bus, when my mom and school I always wore corte and huipil. dad call me and without any doubt I However, when I came to the city, for always answer in my language. I come other situations I assumed that across with people from Santiago combination of wear the corte and Atitlán, and I speak with them in our huipil, sometimes I wore trousers. I language and I can notice when they have sometimes been questioned that feel uncomfortable to speak in our why I have stopped wearing the corte language. (Berta, discussion group, and huipil, that does not mean that I ECP, 2019) stop being Mayan woman, because identity is very complex, it is an This discomfort felt by Mayan element, and important factor but it is university woman students for wear or not the one that determines my not their regional clothing at university identity, then the fact that sometimes I is due to the own rejection, do not wear my clothes that identifies discrimination and racism that has me as k’iche’, that does not mean that historically marked the country, in this I do not assume that identity as a case, by the experiences they or their k’iche’ woman. (Asunción, discussion parents have seen, suffered or lived by
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala identifying themselves as Maya, and learn other things, there are a lot of above all by wear their regional people who weave, we can see them clothes. To understand this knitting in their house or when we go intergenerational dynamic is to know to visit someone in their house, it is so the historical exclusions and racism normal to see them sitting weaving, against Mayan populations, but it also embroidering, because they also do it, involves knowing the historical forms all of this is wonderful. (Florencia, ECP of resistance and rebellions of such interview, 2019) population. What my parents always said: “the The diverse expressions or racism problem when we were studying and exclusion that had experienced ours teachers always said: “stop to woman students make them being fool at the door and start determine and assume or not their studying”, they made reference to Mayan identity, but also the mother language; we’ll not do the experiences of discrimination and same with our children they will not racism suffered by their parents and suffer the same […] they said. grandparents, influence a lot. In other (Discussion Group, 2019). words, the racist structure has passed My experience, during high school I through several generations and its implications have been varied. studied in zone 1, I was the first Therefore, as women students woman who dressed with regional emphasize, who never or often wear clothes, and since there I started to their regional clothing, is not because suffer discrimination and all related they do not want or have the habit to to. And even during my second and wear and talk about it, but because third year in high school, I came to they were not instilled by their parents home and I told my mom “Mom I to wear regional clothes or instilled to cannot, this year I’m going to wear speak the Mayan language all this to my uniform” and she said: “no and avoid racism and discrimination no”… I cried in my house because wherever they go, especially in the that hurt me, but I said, “Why did they educational field as during the time not accept me?” […] (Discussion their parents lived and suffered the Group, 2019) same. This decision whether or not to train Weave? We could not learn it son or daughter into the Mayan world because my mom told us we had to and worldview, by parents, has
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 historical colonial and contemporary for my identity” (Ana Leticia, precedents, the fear that they will be discussion Group, EBI, 2019).Denial, persecuted, marginalized and shame, concealment, etc., assigned to disappeared, such as during the 36 the attitudes of both Mayan women and years of Internal Armed Conflict and men students in the University and in what it involved in Mayan population, society at large, are some of the such as genocide, enforced mechanism of non-indigenous social disappearances, extermination of acceptance to which they have been entire communities, forced exile, etc., cornered (translated as options) for these were and are the fears that “approval and relationship in the non- marked and conditioned several indigenous world” to Mayan youth. This Mayan generations regarding their “options” are usually realized depending identity, about living and making it on the direct or indirect experiences visible in all social atmospheres. lived by young Mayans regarding to I was born in Tecpán and from a exclusion or acceptance in half-breed young age I have worn my regional or ladino social world, so also by the clothing, my mom thought I was going transmission and protection generated to be a boy, but when she knew that I from the Maya family bosom: was a girl she doubted a lot about the “I have a classmate who is from use of my regional clothing, first of all Escuintla, she studies agronomy, but for not suffer any kind of she is ashamed to come with her discrimination and second due to regional clothing, until now she wears economy, because in that time she trouser and T-shirt, but she is still was not well economically to dress ashamed; she did not want anyone to with corte and huipil and also know that she was Pocomam”. because of discrimination; she was uncertain about it and she did not “Patricia she considered herself as want that I wore my regional clothing, ladino more than Maya, because in because she did not now what kind of her social networks’ publications clothes I was going to use- (Ixmukané, appear wearing only dresses, trousers interview, 2019). […]
“I am originally from Santa Cruz del “I knew she was Maya because the day Quiché, but I did not have the I came to ask from information in the opportunity to learn the customs, nor university, I saw her with her mother, the use of regional clothing, I do not and her mother came wearing regional speak the language, and I am looking clothes, otherwise I would not know” (Discussion Group, 2019). 52
Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala
It should be clarified, that stopping the to she school, I think she does not use of clothing does not necessarily identify herself as Mayan woman, mean not identifying as Maya but, beyond that she does not wear her regional clothing makes visibility regional clothing, and there is also other directly to the non-Maya the presence classmate who does not wear regional of Mayans in places as the University. clothes and speak the language neither, As explained above, identity is but, yes she is very energetic and she dynamic, each generations activates, identifies herself with her culture, updates and defines it according to its sometimes we go to the fair, and I think contexts and reality, however, what that clothes do not mark or define who passes through each generation is the you are, you can dress how you want, history, the origin or root of its but if you do not know your identity is ancestors, is commonly and it makes like not know the roots of origin, I mean, each population, in this case Maya, don’t feel part of those roots that is identifies and keep its ancestral roots unknown […]. (Ixmukané, interview, through either objectives and /or 2019) subjectively elements shared historically. These are some I stand out with my regional clothing, clarifications that most woman to all the places I have attended, … students have at the University who due to circumstances, because participated in the discussion groups sometimes I want to attend wearing and interviews. my regional clothes but I cannot, then Even though I do not use my regional I choose to wear other clothes or clothing frequently, I think that fabric trouser […], It is rare for me to say that tell a story, it is something I like and I’m going to wear trouser when I can admire, of how the threads are use my regional clothes in the intertwined and how are formed, then University. (Lesly, interview 2019). for me it is a relationship with the For Maya women students who no cosmos, women is life and represents longer wear their regional clothing, it in Mayan clohtes […] (Discussion emphasize that the no use of it, does Group, 2019). not determine their identity nor the self- There are three Mayan classmates in knowledge as Maya, since there are a class (in italics they are added by the variety of objective and subjective author), but they are not identified as elements which also respond to Mayan Mayan people, there is one from identity, as Carolina highlights: Comalapa and sometimes she comes
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I am not going to include the regional least the days when they receive such clothing because I don’t use it, my laboratories or when they have tours mom does, she is weaver; then some or field trips. of the elements are language, customs and community […] only Racism and discrimination in Mayan people maintains a community, university students the people of the city do not have that dynamics strongest thing. (Discussion Group, 2019) Talking about racism, discrimination and harassment in the USAC is a In the case of Mayan students from necessity above all to make visible academic units of the Humanistic how racism operates in the different Social Area of USAC, except for field academic areas in the Central trips in careers such as archaeology, Campus and the reactions and etc., they wear “trouser” instead of suffering of students to these their regional clothing. Nevertheless, inequalities in the academy, especially in the discussion groups between because before their admission they Mayan women students from this thought that University was going to social area, stop wearing their be different from other places: regional clothing in the University has My experience in University is short, I been due to the rejection, have been here for a short time, in my discrimination, exclusion and racism classroom we are around 80 students suffered directly from their classmates of whom with only five persons I relate in their classrooms, also from some well […] with the rest I […] think professors and above all because of maybe due to the career, Social Work, the harassment of the university one do not have to be discriminated, workers (security, janitors, gardeners, but if there is a subjective etc. ) discrimination such as “oh, what this one is doing here? Or ash¡” I feel they Students from Technical and Health think I smell bad or that I don’t take a Area also manifested that they were shower […] (Discussion Group, 2019). equally suffering racism, discriminations, harassment, etc., nevertheless, Because of the regional clothing they because of the type of career and see us different, I have been draggin laboratories studied they Are forced to conflicts, not just when you enter to the stop wearing their regional clothing, at University you expect a good treat, I mean I think you expect related well.
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala
I studied a Humanities career during presence of Mayan student is reduced just one month, my classmates took in some units, but precisely because my bag out of my desk, I say, ‘why they are minority it is necessary to don’t I have the right to study? […], I discuss about the treatment, facilities, have been dragging with family opportunity and chiefly acceptance conflicts […], I just tolerated just one given to indigenous youth in USAC, month […], I don’t felt comfortable particularly to Mayan women in the […], and I left because I would not Central Campus. That is, this work is last 3 years there and if I continue a contribution to critically analyze what with the bachelor degree it would be happens internally in each academic five 5 more years. They also use the unit, both from teaching, students and Mayan language as jokes, but it hurt workers relationships (janitors, me […] I made the decision to quit guards, gardeners, etc.) in the USAC the career and I think it was the best respecting to the cultural diversity, of decision; today I feel good in the their rights and historical and new career and it strengthens me. contemporary demands. (Discussion Group, 2019) It is relevant to evince that within the What is intended to highlight, in this student dynamic in the USAC the section, is that all Mayan women harmonic, solidarity and openness students when dress their regional social relationships to student clothing they are mostly cultural diversity are not necessarily discriminated and harassed in the generated, it seems that criticism USAC. It is necessary to emphasize and social sensibility to the historical these forms of discrimination in the and marked inequalities in the University, emphasizing what country, chiefly towards Mayan, happens in each of the academic Xinca and Garifuna populations, are areas in Central Campus, where it not implemented by the students has generated not only difficulties to population itself, in this particular case the Mayan students about continued by the mestizo and/or ladino. Such with their studies, but also, in some as Estela, a student from the cases they have had to change agronomy faculty emphasizes: The career or desert the University. University is supposed to be an institution that helps to arouse the This is not intend to affirm or knowledge with new concepts to generalize that it happens in all understand and incite several academic units, because the
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 processes, but I also consider that it inequalities which need to be depends on each and one of us. eradicated in the University itself. There are classmates who are very offensive with regional people, for First semesters in the University were hard for me, at its time […] feeling instance, they say that original people are marginalized because alone and looking at me as Mayan woman, even, wearing my regional they want, or that here in Guatemala clothing between my classmates, land is not a problem, and that Mayan people are are not updated being alone among all of them […] more than one classmate questioned […] (Discussion Group, 2019) and looked at me in a different way in Glances, comments, indifferences, class […] they asked me where are questions, disqualifications, etc., are you from?, the other day they asked some of the racist and exclusionist me if I washed my clothes, and also manifestations faced by Mayan how many times I take a shower?; students particularly those of first Well I hardly had any problems using entry in any career, it means these Spanish language. There is a attitudes towards them happen in difference, because as I tell you they both the Health Sciences Technical looked at me very strange, and in the Area and in the Humanistic Social classes they said “why is she doing Area where some students have here? They did not tell me anything to been forced to stop wearing their me but I can notice it, I thought it was regional clothes, change career or normal or they all did the same thing withdraw from university. to each other. (Florencia, interview 2019). In the case of Humanistic Social Area it should be noticeable that as Florencia, Maya kaqchikel, student at social science areas seek to analyze the Political Science School, when and propose solutions to historical she told about her experience inequalities in the country and emphasized that has been difficult for worldwide, responding to diverse her to find classmates who social demands from their social- understood her, since she was alone historical, economic political and as Maya throughout her career, cultural contexts, it is expected that although she had a friend, but it was during practice students will be more in the common area and that fellow aware of the diverse and marked was not a regular student.
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala
She also found limitations had just told her that she only had to propounding her thesis about wear a formal suit, and that was the indigenous people because discussion. It was so hard that she had professors whose she received to left the school; she said “I have classes told her that it was not her received more harassment than approach, that they could not help her normal, more than a ladino woman and it was better to change her topic. could receive out at the street, University, on the bus”, and for that In the case of Edelmira, Maya Tzutujil, reason she quit.” (Edelmira, although she does not wear her discussion Group, 2019). regional clothes, she identifies herself as Maya and speaks her language; In the case of Ixb’ee, who studied at she has faced with direct and indirect Law School for a few semesters but experiences, but one of the hardest she quit, she emphasized that during experiences was because of her the short time she studied at USAC friend, also Maya, she tried to experienced racism both outside and accompanied her, but she couldn’t within classes, from some student and because her friend Ana deserted due professors: to the several exclusions and racism Due to my clothes my classmates said she suffered in the Political Sciences “ey look there comes the Menchú”, School classes. they said that to me in order to say My friend from Sololá, was something offensive. In the first discriminated, I found her crying, semester I coincided with the assistant because some classmates told her of a presidential excomissioner against that she was dirty, naive, that she was Discrimination and Racism, we took a not allow to comment in the exposition course called Guatemala’s History; group and only whose wearing formal there was a bachelor, who is coauthor of suit could speak, her formal suit was a text that is used in law, she said that her regional clothes, and they told she Mayans were taken by a flying saucer, can’t participate. Such event marked and they no longer exist […] She is her life. All my classmate were in good coauthor of a book that they forced us to terms with me and I told them that I buy because it is used for the exam, I was from Santiago Atitlán, and I spoke think it should be better to review those the Tzutijil language, even so they texts and books that still are in force in said that I did it to protect and defend the faculty. (Ixb’ee, Discussion Group, her, but she was whiny, because they 2019).
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019
The student’s comments against said. (Ixb’ee, Discussion Group, Mayan women not only hurt but also 2019). disqualify the Maya and its references and contemporary Derogatory and disqualifying leaders. In other words, in the glances socio-racist imaginary, commenting on Mayan people with national and The derogatory and rare glances are international background (such as one of the ways to disqualify Nobel Peace Prize laureate students in class and in the Rigoberta Menchú) are ways of university in general. These weird offence and disqualification about glances, questioning, rejection and everything related to the Mayan disqualification, in a general way people and chiefly it evidences were highlighted constantly in all unacceptability for Mayan women in discussion groups, interviews and politics. life stories. In each disqualification experience, students emphasized These types of comments reflect that how difficult has been for them to being university students not continue studying with classmates necessarily implies being aware, who do not look at and treat them sequential, inclusive and respectful the same as the rest of the students. about cultural, linguistic and ethnic Moreover, all of them highlighted diversity, etc. of the country. that perceive these looks has not been only in the University but also There is an historical construction of racism based on the differences, in all spaces that they frequent, both physical and cultural, as where there are a larger mestizo or justification for non-acceptance, ladino population. The rare glances rejection and exclusion of Mayans in that Mayan students mention are decision making scenarios, different for those perceived in their especially for Mayan women. For communities or peoples, these weird that reason, behind this comment glances show the racism in the there is a whole structure and University. operation of racism in society and There are small actions that people universities are not indifferent to do unconsciously but still reflect that these manifestations, “the university there is some unacceptability is a reflect of Guatemala, but in towards us or the taboo of insecurity, small” as one of the Mayan student because when I come to take the bus 58
Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala some people stare at me or at my (Margarita, Discussion Group, 2019). clothes, I don’t know if because they like it, or I don’t know, is something Here at the School of Political Science, that they would not do with anyone, the biggest problem of discriminations is but maybe I already got used to it, I that they limit us to wear our regional did not look at them, but at first I did; I clothing in some way or another, also realized that when I need to get because I have an indigenous fellow out the bus and I said “at the from 5th. Semester she is from pharmacy bus stop please” they Chimaltenango and stopped wearing looked at me […] these are actions her regional clothes during 15 days that still reflect certain ideas, but they because she was derided, then she have not affected me significantly wore her clothes again, but she wore it because I do not take it seriously. one day and another she didn’t, and her (Madeline, Pharmacy student. possibility to wear her regional clothing Interview 2019). was taken away. That is the problem Something that happened to me is here; everybody looked rare at you, and that some classmates looked at us in asked, where are you from? If your a bad way, but well, I think that they wash your clothes […], if you take a do not feel what we feel, so they shower or not. (Edelmira, Discussion cannot understand why we wear our Group ECP, 2019). regional clothing, sometimes when Wearing regional clothes implies that they make groups and don’t choose the students are appointed with the me is something like “no, she doesn’t”, name of “María” it is homogenized not but I am with my friend, so I ignore only the name but also creates an them, it does not affect me when they stereotype about indigenous being, said these kind of comments. (Estela, about the spaces and activities that Discussion Group, 2019). they performs and even how a Maya There are some classmates that looked should be dressed, and the common depreciative at us and when we come expression toward the students at the courses with our friend we can (Discussion Group, 2019): notice how they think in a derogatory way about origin people and “Sht María you dropped the garbage” conservation of the Mother Earth “If you are Maya, why do you use a resources. They do not have the idea celphone? Because Mayan people do about how we look at it, their worldwide not use cellphones. is different from ours, and for that reason they perceive it different. “They use the regional clothing as a
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 joke and use two braids and that” Is yesterday (he does not talk to me, he not pleasant, for instance, in the doesn’t even tell me ‘hey¡ what is your election of indigenous queen they name? or What are you doing, where wear the oldest clothes and here are you from?’ he doesn’t aske me they say ‘how beautiful it looks’. totally nothing, he not even say ‘good morning’) he wore a typical shirt of “They look at us as strangers and that corte, then I looked at him and is uncomfortable, so many times they questioned: ‘Do you love my culture called me María, when I came to take or my country, or what is it? Do you the exams they always said that”. really love your culture? So I answer myself: no, because he does not even “The first experience of ask where I come from, however, he discrimination at the University I wear something that is mine, suffered was when I attended to something that we share. It is very sad class, a professor told me: ‘excuse and upsetting about these cases me but I’m in class’, so I couldn’t get because one feel it like something into the classroom because he was disrespectful. (Discussion Group, teaching and he did not allow 2019) people to enter and ask for money, because they thought I was a Traditional clothing so many times is beggar”. valued or devalued according to the person who wear it, in the case of Disqualifying gestures, expressions Mayans, their clothing do not have the and glances form classmates against value that is given to someone ladino Mayan students are deeper when or mestizo who dress with some group work has to be done, as Ixkaj Mayan clothes, who is admired and emphasizes: praised. As Ixkaj highlighted, regional How you feel strange and how you clothing is not only rejected when belong strong in that way, you have to Mayan woman wear it, but also the be strong by your own abilities; for bodies and authors of this fabric example, when in a group someone is production are rejected, that is doing despective gestures, I obviously precisely what several Mayan weaver take it as it’s not tre, because it is woman manifest and demand the really not true, I keep it that way, I recognition and respect not only of don’t take it seriously, as a lie. For their authorship of designs and instance, I have a fellow that just apparel but of a whole historical
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala with land and hearth habits. (Harvey, legacy originated in front of the 2007. p. 9). accumulation by dispossession. (David Harvey, 2005, 2007), which This contradiction not only reveals are new forms of neoliberal the ignorance of Guatemala’s expropriation. history and diversity populations who conform it, this ignorance also Accumulation by dispossession can translates into the non-recognition occur by several ways and its and non-acceptance people’s contingent and hazardous modus plurality and all manifestation and operandi. Thus and all, is expression elements in an stratified omnipresent, regardless of the society not only by classes but historical stage, and it accelerates ethnicity and gender. But also is the when over-accumulation crises no-acceptance and recognition of an occur in extended reproduction, indigenous past, it means, since the when there seems no to be other non-Maya (Mestizo and/or ladino) way except devaluation. The population there is a denial to know inability to accumulate through their origin. Guzmán Böckler extended reproduction on a emphasizes that “in the depths of sustainable basis has been ladino consciousness, the Indian is accompanied by increasing attempts inevitably present, but in the way of of accumulation through a collective, recriminate and dispossession. This is the mark of threatening shadow” (2009, p. 108). what some call “the new Mayan Originating roots in half- Imperalism”. (Harvey, 2005, p. 100, breed and/or ladino populations 115) have been tried to be erase, the The process of neoliberalization story that was highlighted in the has involve a perceptible process of previous pages is what the non- “creative destruction” not only of Maya population do not have it in previously existing frameworks and mind. The denial of their origin has institutional powers (even marked structural racism in this challenging traditional forms of state country. For that reason, it is not sovereignty) but also of the divisions surprising that the term Ladino is of work, social relations, social used more in this country, otherwise protection areas, technological from the rest of Latin American combinations, ways of life and countries, where the term mestizo thought, reproduction activities, links makes reference to the non-
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 indigenous or black populations, but projects. In the second project who know their origin was because of mixed races begin to reformulate as the miscegenation process not only the non-white exploration, during of cultures, but also bodies, centuries of clandestineness cutting worldwide of life and a whole web of inside and through the white blood, sociopolitical structure in the until it reemerge in the present of its continent. Instead, in Guatemala, prolonged concealment in wide this legacy, this originate history process people re-emergence seems to have been erased from witnessed by the continent. Thus, the ladino population half-breed people come to perceive consciousness, assuming it as that they bring the Indian history within ladina which is not linked with the them. (Segato, 2010). original history. This lack of consciousness about its history has been one of the dispossessions that Exclusion in working groups such Mayan populations have Mayan women at the University suffered but it has consciously represent a low percentage in USAC assumed not to belong on the Central Campus. Recognition indigenous or black side. among them, most of the time, is There is a cross-world of mixed given through their clothing, and races as whitening, ideologically sometimes, although reduced, by constructed as the abduction of non- the language, last names or place of white blood in the whiteness and its origin. cooptation in the process of The biggest difficulties Mayan successive dilution of black and students have faced in their Indian track in the whitened Creole academic units, especially in their world of the continent. And there is a classrooms, is the exclusion by their cross-world of opposite sense, classmates. By Identifying and which we could call blackening: of assuming themselves as Maya they the contribution of non-white blood have been discriminated in many in demographic reconstruction ways, for instance the non- process. These two definitions are acceptance or exclusion in working truly ideological, since the biology of or tasks groups. This dynamic is both is the same and correspond, of perceived and heavily confronted course, to opposite historical during the first years of university. 62
Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala
It is crucial to emphasize that at this Spaniards said “white people are student stage (freshman student) is good, and the others are bad, you are where Mayan students generate useless, just to work”, this way of alternatives of permanence in their thinking is deeply implanted and also career, looking for alliances and the importance of family, because accompaniment among Mayan they said to their children “you are the women, which have been best” and to us they said “you are the accomplishable by the self- worst”. (Ijá, Discussion Group, 2019). recognition as Maya between Ijá, a student of the Faculty of themselves. It means, assuming Pharmacy makes reference to the identity and making it visible in the marked difference and historical University, especially by the use of disqualification imposed in the social their regional clothing, it makes that imaginary, where the white always Mayan woman recognize will be the best and the rest will be themselves and be allied to face the non-accepted difference. This such exclusions in class. This acquired strength and a heyday in dynamic of discrimination and the family, since it is one of the racism in classrooms are manifested institutions where these racist in the distrust, disqualification and differences will be forged, in the chiefly exclusion of Mayan students case of half-breed or ladino side; and in working or study groups. There is in the case of Mayan families, it is a construction in the socio-student assimilated that these pattern “are so”, imaginary where students can be that black and Indio are bad, seen, particularly Mayan women moreover a fear is adopted when (who make visible their Mayan not being able to fit in and be identity with objective elements such rejected in this hegemonic white as their clothing), such as silly, logic. unable, mentally deficient, inferior, dirty, ugly, etc. I feel like we usually are in a Mecanisms for permanence disadvantage situation, with the fact of Mayan student at the of wearing Mayan clothing from the USAC beginning. There was racism against our ancestors, it is an structural Mechanisms of permanence are process that comes from the colony, efforts and attempts that Mayan woman do to remain as students in 63
Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 the University, however, for exams but in all the works and tasks experiences and training, education inside and outside of class. Obtain a in their culture and worldwide, and good grade has been one of the accompaniment that they have demonstrations before their received from different spaces, classmates; it has been a mechanism particularly from family, which has of defense and recognition of their influenced in a good way so they abilities and responsibilities before can live, transit and face diverse the students and professor who exclusion and racism ways in the stereotype them and not as University, and they further competence for the best grades. strengthen their identity and carry They admit don’t like to be thinking with them the political and cultural about show how capable they are elements which identified them as because that is not the idea of being Maya, specifically the Mayan in University, but, is the only way to clothing, or well, they decided be respected and included in works (obliged) not to identifying made inside or outside class. themselves as Maya and /or dissimulate or hide their indigenous My experience as student in my first identity; and worst left or desert their semester in the USAC, during high university studies. school I always wore corte, however I also had the opportunity to wear Demonstration of Mayan skirt, but my parents said no, so I students’ proficiency and said (“they only bought me a sweater and I always wore corte”) it abilities in class is the same in the University, I Mayan students when they assume hadn’t any problem, because I their identity are forced to show their always have in mind that people proficiency, abilities and intelligence maybe think about me as someone in classroom in front of their half- with less capabilities due to my breed and/or ladino classmates and clothing, then I came prepared for sometimes to their professors. This everything, so when I entered and I demonstration of intelligence and met other girls who also wore their ability has led them to generate regional clothing, we became alternatives and mechanisms of friends, but I realized that many survival in academic field about people did not trust us, I always perform in the best way not only in have been responsible, very
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala responsible, I do all the task zed in Mayan clothing, for them, assigned, I tried to do the best I can. what is happening? When they say When I were admitted […] ‘make groups of ten’, one is left professors said, ‘groups of ten’, we alone, simply by wear regional were three, we said ‘well, we are clothes. Stereotypes for us mean three, somebody else?’ all my that we are silly, lazy, that we do not classmates had already groups and known how to speak, that we are we were there, the ones who were useless; and such stereotypes left, with us. Then what I did […], limited us, we face a situation of because I was the coordinator disadvantages, but over time we group, was encourage them and I also demonstrate capability. said ‘we have to show that we are (Discussion Group, 2019). smart, and then our classmates are not going to ignore us anymore. After some years at University, (Madeline, Pharmacy student. Mayan students said that meeting Discussion Group, 2019). and having both indigenous and non-indigenous friends, they no I think we as Maya from any town longer pay attention to these should empower ourselves about attitudes of disrespect and denial in the situation we face and we must student work circles, although, it show that we are not different does not stop to disappoint them that intellectually in front of other groups, in the University they have to I feel for example in my classroom experience and learn to live with the only thing that differentiates me racism. is my Mayan clothing, but each of us have experienced different situations. (Catalina, Discussion Aliances and sorority among Group, 2019). Maya women
There are stereotypes that mark One of the strategies that have student’s relationships and from strengthened Mayan women in their these several discriminations and academic units, particularly when exclusion are generated to the they are few, is the alliance. Seeing Mayan women in classrooms, as Ijá, their clothing and accompanying said: From the stereotypes, visuali- them, above all, in the first years of University has been one of the
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 strenghts that they stand out and Which are different in the University value, because they acquire security (Ijá, Discussion Group, 2019). and courage in team-friendships. See that they are a minority in class In my faculty, in the second and and the majority are indifferent and third year, with some Mayan woman exclude them from working group, we were sitting around the table they gather themselves to do when someone else came with us homework not only to obtain better and said “I have seen you around grades but to be respected like the here, we would like to be with you, rest of students. cause is very difficult being Mayan woman and be accepted in different We felt the exclusion in these groups; others talk about the same spaces and I think that being in a and you about their clothing, what group or couples helps to minimize kind of food we eat, the way we live, that pressure, at the beginning it that kind of things”. Then it is like helped us because we identified us open a new space to Mayan women as Mayan woman and we said ‘here, who did not wear regional clothing, nobody is going to tell us what we because we said ‘let’s use it, let’s cannot do or what we can do’ so wear tennis, I don’t’ know, that give us security and we cannot feel discrimination, the bad glances, everything combine with our Mayan such kind of things regularly clothing’ […] (Ijá, Discussion Group, experienced. I think that is common 2019). in the University, I have seen or I The alliances not only strengthen have stayed in some activities and I Mayan students but also raise can see the glances, like what is she awareness to the woman who do doing here?, but I still feel good, I not wear o have tried not to use their am listening to the discourse and I regional clothing due to the fear of do not pay attention to them, it’s being rejected or discriminated in time to go through it and live a life the faculty. Likewise, they break the outside our community, more established paradigms about environment, and coexistences that how should dress Mayan woman we commonly have in a village, since they combine their clothing with garments or accessories, as in
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala the case of Ijá to combine any kind admired her, because she can do it of shoes with her clothing. That way […] In the first years there are of breaking with the established and classmates who in their conversations challenge the social imaginary itself say “you look Indian” and when I am to the Mayan youth not only around they say “shhhh shut up, don’t preserve their roots but also say that” […] (Ixmukané, interview, evidence it in different ways. 2019).
When is made friendships or groups When student show their skills and in the faculty, Mayan students said intelligence, the non-maya classmates they feel safe and have no fear for perspective change about them, and being excluded. Although, not all of just for that they include them into them have experienced the same working or study groups, but it only because they have had to be alone happen when they already know the in class, courses and their career, grades their Mayan classmates have particularly in Technical and Health had in their classes: “ahh she can”, academic units, they have had to “hey, lend me your notebook”. strengthen themselves, basically Likewise they are pending for how through their family and friends from many points Mayan students have: “I different academic units. saw that all of them looked at my exam, when grades were given, and it I was the only in the first year, at the feels like ‘if your grades are good, yes beginning my classes where at S12 you can’ […] “when the professor building, I was the only one, and I called me and I receive my exam, they thought I was going to experience tried to see my grades” (Discussion the same as middle school, but in a Group, 2019). short time it was happening. I was looking for allies but little by little one This change of attitude is given have to look opportunities, how in precisely by convenience, according biology class there are some else to what is highlighted for some who wear their clothing, not every Mayan students “they choose me day but one classmate wears it because they know I’m responsible every day, I like it because there are and I do my job”. And also admit more people who wear their regional that some classmates included them clothing in nutrition and biology into their groups, not assigning class, but in chemical class there is difficult tasks just the easiest ones to just one girl who wear her clothing, I do, and not even choose them as
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 coordinator working group; it does (Madeline, interview, 2019). As not mean to create bonds of indicated above, as well as there are friendships, according to what diverse ways to assume Mayan Mayan students have stated. identity, there is also mechanisms, reactions, actions and positioning in “I remember when working groups were made and they included me in, front of several exclusions and racism however, the assigned me the that Mayan woman faced in the easiest task, I do not remember University. As Ixmucané, Kotzij and what it was, but it wasn’t difficult and Kikotemal point out: I thought, why not? I felt like maybe If they discriminate me, I don’t care; they thought I couldn’t do it” I’m used to that treatment. There are (Discussion Group, 2019). moments in life when you react. They already trust in me, and said When I feel that I can´t go on, I get "ok yes, choose her, she works, courage because we are thinking contributes, and has good grades, beings just like them. During the ohh! Yes she can, then choose her’ I courses it has always happened to felt included in a group, however me, when I get into the classroom all there is no a sincere friendships of them look at me if I am well because they only choose me by the dressed, I don’t know, they look at fact that I can contribute, maybe I’m me from head to toe, it always not the best, but I try to show that happens to me, well, it has always Mayan women can do that. It was happened to me, but I prefer ignore my process, but I consider if I did them… I have learned how to treat not do that way, I would have people, I am not looking to be worked alone, I don’t know how it friends, and it is just for respect. would be now, because telling the (Kikotemal, Discussion Group, 2019) truth professors assign a lot of homework and tasks; but it is so The truth is that I’m not a person relevant to demonstrate our abilities, who cares about that kind of actions, not to denigrate somebody but by but it was difficult the change from the fact that we are Mayans and we school to university; it is very curious need to fight, because historically it what they say: ‘there are always has been so. Unfortunately it has to more indigenous people in the be like that, so that we can do is to School of History’, it could be but stand out in such spaces. there are just two girls who wear the
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala traditional clothing. (Kotzji, of racism against them, and that in Discussion Group, 2019). the Social Sciences Careers these actions are more noticeable than in I study in the morning and I have seen technical and health careers, not how they treat people who wear because there are less racism in the traditionl clothing. One day I wore my latter, but there are different dynamics traditional clothing and a classmate and rules which limit and justify the said to me ‘oh please, you would not use of Mayan clothing, that is not the have dresses like this, because now I case in the Social Sciences, therefore, can no longer speak to you’, and I it is necessary to raise awareness and said ‘so, don’t do it’ (Edelmira, make visible that racism and Discussion Group ECP, 2019). harassment happen in all university Analizyng Mayan students’ stories areas especially in Social Sciences regarding to mechanism of defense areas and check what kinds of and permanence at university and alternatives, proposals and actions the the reactions of half-breed and/or university generates, especially the ladino students in terms of Segato academic units, in front of these (2010), that right to the difference is structural inequalities such as generated but without real or true historical racism and discrimination inclusion because it is done for that has denied the indigenous, the specific purposes and interests Maya, the black, the “other” in this keeping the distinction of otherness country. This reality of inequalities is as someone inferior, for that reason experienced, manifested and it is essential to change the stories reproduced in an institution that where the plots and origin of a group generates knowledge. or people in this case half-breed or ladino comes from the otherness, Sexual Harassment and knowing and assuming it would Violence at USAC generate not inclusion but recognition and coexistence with In general the status of women in diverse peoples. Guatemala has historically been subject to a colonial patriarchy It is necessary to emphasize that the which not only places her in small use of the traditional clothing in spaces but ignores them as actors Mayan youth at university involves a and subjects of law. However, the whole series of actions and attitudes status of the Mayan, garífuna or
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 xinca woman women is below of the Harassment and sexual violence is half-breed and/or ladino women; another factor that affects emotionally, about them – the others – there are psychologically and physically to other readings, treatments, espaces Mayan students, and it is one of the and conditions that allows and justify racist and discriminatory the different types of violence. manifestations and actions that most influence and force to Mayan women One of the adjoining mechanisms of to stop wearing their tradicional racism and discrimination against clothing in the university. Mayan women, as it has been since the colony, is sexual harassment. In Sexual harassment to Mayan the discussion groups and women not occurs in the same ways socialization of Mayan women or intensity as non-Mayan women. experiences in the USAC, they The harassment that Mayan women indicate that sexual harassment in suffer denigrates them not only the Central Campus against them because they are women but for the has been daily and on a large scale, reason that they are Maya, it seems particularly from university workers, that wearing their regional clothing such as surveillance agents, exposed them and gives men the masons, service and maintenance right to harass them, no matter if managers, etc. They emphasized there is a public or academic area that have been victims of sexual as university. This way of perceive harassment from professors and and acting on the women’s bodies students, however it is less than especially Mayans in the University, what it is received from service and equally by both half-breed/ladino maintenance workers, among others and Mayan men, in the realization from the university. and symbolization of modern colony patriarchy and colonialist gender. Workers who are cleaning or (Segato, 2010). sweeping, think they have the right I have a friend who dressed with corte, to call us “my love”, and also say sometimes she does not wear it, when “Hey, come here India, come here”, she come dressed with her corte I think that is the greatest people whistle her, they annoy her, discrimination I have felt and and when she wear trouser they no experienced in the university. longer do it, so from us –Mayan (Lucía, ECP Discussion Group, peoples- why we don’t respect each 2019).
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala among us (Juana, CCSS Discussion school has been so difficult for me as Group, 2019). Mayan women, because they looked at me in an strange way, and In Elsa’s case, the harassment she questioned me, flattered me, and suffered at the university was so created a stereotype of folklore on intense and constantly, then she me” (Florencia, ECP Discussion was forced to decide no longer wear Group, 2019). her traditional clothing in such place. Elvia’s case, is just one of many “When I started the university I contemporary dispossession dressed with my traditional clothes, experiences about identity; it is the but workers intimidate us and my active example of how colonial greatest problem is that I suffered racism operates and persists, harassment in buses here in the racism that deprive women of their University, and has been so hard for freedoms and symbolic and material me. I got to a situation where I no identities, of not feel themselves in longer wanted to take the bus, I said the freedom to be who they are. In my mom ‘no, I don’t want anymore’, colonial times they were collective and it makes me feel so bad. Now I do grouping to face with the multiple not dress anymore with my clothing in violence and abuses to which they the Political Science School, but in my were subjected. (Aura Cumes, 2014; house I do, because that how my Emma Chirix, 2012; Gladys Tzul, parents taught me and it is part of my 2016) For that reason, culture.” (Elsa, ECP Discussion contemporary youth replicate that Group, 2019). collective grouping; its sense not necessary is transmitted speaking In general, there is a coincidence to about it but performing and acting. say that there is a racist imaginary that considers that “people more Mayan languages and worldwide susceptible and vulnerable to being discriminated are indigenous Mayan worldwide is the way to people, it must be normal because perceive; feel and live life taking into they are inferior” (Lucrecia, account all nature and living beings Discussion Group, 2019). in individual, collective-community daily life. The Mayan worldwide for Some women also stated that they Mayan students is about all ways of have suffered daily harassment as if treatment and coexistence with they were rare beings, “Attend to the 71
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Mother Nature, all living beings who also the disconnection and inhabit it, people of the village, the discontinuation of the original history, relationship and connection with the given not only from past but present cosmos, the universe and with all and for a future (Rita Segato, 2010) the dimensions of life and times that only in this form an history can be exist. For them Mayan worldwide is build and without a language a whole network of social, natural, transmission history would not be energetic and so on norms that unify possible. every living being among them, and For Mayan students who participated in which are read and lived in different the discussion groups, interviews and ways, for example: it is read through life stories, stated that language is one the Mayan calendar, it is thanked of the primary and essential for the and offered through Mayan establishment of identity and history ceremonies, the times and lunar and itself, that history is nothing more than solar positions, in the skin, clothing, works, on earth, etc. All of these all transmissions made in both written and orally, through practices, works, art, forms of manifest the diverse ways etc. of life are apprehended and keeping through the Mayan language. In my case I did not grow up in my Language is one of the most vital village, but we assist to each party at elements for symbolic and material San Pedro Sacatepéquez, we made transmission of culture, worldwide of all the parties there, with all my family, life, daily and native practices, in the I spoke Mayan language and my case of Mayan people. Language parents too, they always insisted us more than a means of transmission not to stop speaking our language, my of a whole millennial worldwide, is grandparents always did. All these the manifestation and expression was a cultural wealth from them, they itself of an historical feeling of the always transmitted their traditions, Mayan populations. Language is the teachings, respect for nature, my manifestation of identity, it is identity grandfather has a lot of lands, he itself. sowed trees, fruits, he also take care of nature, that is something that we Stop talking about Mayan language preserve in family, we like to seed. involves not only the loss of (Clara, ECP Discussion Group, 2019) understanding of Mayan world but Mayan language is an example of the historical resistance of populations 72
Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala about deny breaking with history, Mayan grandparents according to multiple knowledge and know-how. what Mayan students emphasized. All Mayan students who participated Grandparents have been a key for emphasized the need to speak and today youth, and that they manifest in recover the Mayan languages, even their academic, artistic, etc. when some of them did not speak productions, origins, history and their mother language, and in some elements that identify Mayan people in cases even wearing their clothing, the country. however they decided and looked Most of Mayan women stated that for how to learn Mayan language, both coexistence and memories because consider that they are part they have from their grandparents of the ancestral cultural hearth, it is especially from grandmothers, have a door which connects with a whole influenced in apprehension and series of stories and life logic from strengthening of their Mayan ancestors for new generations. identity. “It is necessary to emphasize that in a structure or Grandparents and the nuclear Mayan family the figure of strengthening of Mayan grandparents is important and also identity is part of such structure, it has Mayan identity is a transmission that relevance in the transmission and is made and mainly strengthens in strengthening of identity through oral the family, according to Mayan stories, symbolic and material students. However, not all of them inheritances, as discussion groups” had the same strengthening and students emphasized. transmission about Mayan identity It should also be noted in the case elements (subjective and objective of Mayan women, their elements) from their parents due to grandmothers were who forged their the contemporary context in identity, specifically ones who did Guatemala’s history marked by 36 not have “the right to learn the years of Internal Armed Conflict, a Mayan language as mother subject which will be addressed in language” through their parents, due the following section. to the fear that their daughters would be rejected and suffered The rescue of historical memory and racism and discriminations as they Mayan identity is in the hands of did.
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Memories and stories of transmission, training and self- grandparents transmitted to the recognition as Maya. Being able to students’ parents also influenced live and learn with grandparents has their decision of stop teaching the been one of immediate actions that language or dress their daughters reactivates and return the history to with traditional clothing; it doesn’t youth about their Mayan identity mean that their grandparents have roots. In the particular students’ not transmitted their identity to their case, they emphasized they parents assume it, but it was grandmothers were and are the because of violence context in which essential link to know themselves they grew up and that caused the and become aware about what they break the transmission of Mayan can do and what they are, learning identity elements their identity, keeping and raise Several students stated that their awareness of it in all its fields and grandmothers were the main focus social spaces. of their self-recognition, the use of It is essential to rescue these ways their clothing and speak the of reviving and return history, since language is what they remember the it is a form to generate Maya social most (in cases were grandparents cohesion and for strengthening of have already died). During Mayan people. Highlighting itself the childhood when they went out to return of history. (Segato, 2010). play and went to say hello to their grandparents, or try to go with them Internal Armed Conflict: to the market or frequent it to see implications in post-conflict them because in some cases grandmothers had stands in the generations. market, going to the fairs or parties Internal Armed Conflict (1960- 1996) of the village, whether or not they in Guatemala, was one of the most live in their houses. Closeness with bloodiest historical facts the country grandmothers has been a source of has faced, were 36 years which knowledge and strength for Mayan marked the entire indigenous students. population in Guatemala, and today Then there is a central contribution the consequences of multiple grandparents made in youth, violations of human rights of Mayan especially in their education,
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala populatons. the Army, in individual acts and in some cases where also participated According to the Commission of the Civil Self-defense Patrol (PAC by Historical Clarification (CEH by its its acronyms in Spanish), military acronym in Spanish), of the total of commissioners, the dead squads or massacres, 95% were perpetrated other state security forces integrant; between 1978 and 1984. In this 3% were perpetrated by the guerrilla period a 90% of the massacres and 4% by non-identified people or registered by the CEH occurred in groups. 8% of the victims were Quiché (52%), Huehuetenango Maya and 17% were ladino. (Dewer- (14%), Chimaltenango (10%), Alta Plana, p. 6, 2006) Verapaz (9%) and Baja Verapaz (4%) and 97% victims of all arbitrary It is important to site and executions perpetrated in massacres comprehend Mayan identity from died during armed conflict period. this part of its contemporary Guatemalan history. Internal Armed In this ways, dead people were Conflict, marked Mayan populations, concentrated in Mayan populations, families; the suffered violence were being the K’iche’s most affected, generated on multiple scales of life, having suffered 25% of the arbitrary in the daily micro-spaces (Yagenova, executions in massacres, followed 2019) of Mayan populations, it by the kaqchikel (14%), the Ixil (13%), means in both individually, collective the Q’eqchi’e (11%), the Achí 8%), the and community level (see Mam (6%) and the Chuj (5%). A 7% AVANCSO, 2017). of executed victims in massacres were Ladinos (CEH, 2012). Violent transgressions reconfigured how to assume identity and how It is estimated that approximately transmit it to later generations at 250,000 were victims, from them best; in other cases in families was more than 45,000 are still missing, no longer speaking about Mayan one million of internal displaced identity. However, nowadays, people and 150,000 refugees in according to the students’ Mexico particularly. 430 villages interventions and contributions, were completely eliminated from the youth consciousness and map and it was registered a total of particularly from grandparents as 667 massacres, where 93% (626) was stated in the previous section, victims were perpetrated by state agents, where abuses committed by
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were the key to the return of history Expression of a racial, colonial and and memory (Segato 2010) to patriarchy domination system youth. Likewise, some parents prevailed since colonial times. throughout the time changed their The use and transmission of Mayan minds and have resumed their languages in contemporary identity, resigned it not only for them generations has been but to their daughters, particularly discontinuous, there has been a from Mayan men, as Ijá pointed out rupture due to the diverse “it is difficult that a man identify assimilationist, repressive and himself, my mom told me that my dad genocide policies promoted in until married her, six years later he different social spaces, but identified as Maya, because he never particularly from the State, and wear regional clothing” (Discussion contemporary during 36 years of Group, 2019). Internal Armed Conflict as Manifestation of identity is different mentioned before. But what from men and women, since mostly happened during colonization and of them do not wear traditional invasion process where native clothing as their daily dress, except population generated a mechanism in some places, but mostly there are to preserve part of their worldwide of older people who wear it, for life, and specifically it has been the example in Chichicastenango and case of pre and post Internal Armed Sololá. Conflict generations, and that today, in the case of university Mayan Ijá, emphasize to analyze something women who have looked, interfered necessary and essential about how and found in familiar history their identity in men was and is more Mayan identity, and it goes beyond difficult to externalize and in some of the objective expression of cases to assume it. This is one topic identity as Ixmukané emphasize: that is necessary to be deepened in future investigations and analyses Identity is more than clothing and about men Maya identity. language, you have to feel and be it, because I can wear my clothing and It is necessary to point out and speak the language, but if you do highlight that Internal Armed Conflict not identify yourself with some is not more than a manifestation and aspect, you do not feel your own a real, conscious and reflective
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala destiny, so wearing your clothing or Indigenous or black identity in speak your languages is useless. I Guatemala is totally to accept daily do not discard that speak a Mayan racism and discrimination, that is language or wear traditional identity is seen as a synonym of clothing, strengthen anyone courage because to accept Mayan identities, because each of us have origin means suffering, as Clara an individual, familiar, etc., aspect, emphasized “Youth need so much in my case there are two languages, courage to accept what they are and Q’eqchi from my father which he that is hard at the moment” (ECP, teach, write and speak so good and Discussion Group, 2019) my mother can understand it but she can’t speak or write it, and in the For some youth women assume context in which we grew up, my identity is not a challenge but siblings, during the 80’s, at that time empowerment, the only way to resist, my parents did not teach us the keep and ensure original history, not language due to the fear about the as a legacy but as something own to situation living in the country, they delegate to other generations. did not want us to suffer “I am Maya I have an ancestral discrimination, especially for me legacy, I identify myself as kaqchikel being women, I do not know if my because it is the spoken language mom wore the clothing, but finally I and define us as linguistics did. (Interview, 2019) community”. (Vilma, ECP, Since the process of colonization Discussion Group, 2019). and diverse marginal policies that “I am indigenous because I always homogenize and make no visible have been characterized by different socio-cultural, political and kaqchikel language, it has instilled economic expressions, in me cultural values (Elsa, interview, Guatemala, not only has generated 2019). diverse asymmetric social relations based on physical-cultural Assuming Mayan identity as courage “inferiority” (Segato, 2010) but also is a category that refers to immediate has been assimilated and consequences they can suffer by transmitted to generation of identify themselves as Maya, this act generation. For that reason for some of bravery more than encourage and Mayan women assume Maya strengthen, identity, questioned,
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 interpret and make it weak; diversification of careers in such because from now a preconception centers as those in Central Campus. of what being Maya in this country For that reason, migration by higher means has been generated, it is not education, in this case has been one bad to know historical of the student populations demands consequences that young people which has not been analyzed by faced by identify themselves as competent authorities. Maya, but of the malicious, negative and hesitant sense behind this term. The decision to travel from their It is contrary to identity as villages to the city involves several appropriation of an historical legacy experiences and process not only in which looks assume the historical their academic life but also in all areas origin of a millennial culture, as an and social circles as Mayan women essence that gives sense to the stated. In some cases due to the being. distance Mayan women have not decided to live temporarily in the city Meaning and importance and return to their villages while they of migrate for university do not attend to university, for studies example, travel on weekends. Other, due to the proximity of their villages Migrating is a right, but in such as Chimaltenango, Guatemalan context, migration has Sacatepéquez, Escuintla, etc., have been an option that forces several decided to travel every day; however it populations to leave their villages involve many difficulties as transport, due to the various needs and harassment and sexual violence in unsatisfactory demands that buses, on the streets, etc. governments and the State itself have not resolved. In the case of “I have stopped to study because Mayan young people migration for was difficult to have money for studies or education toward internet, there has research works Guatemala city is precisely because where I needed to use it. That part there is a marked centralization from was hard for me, when I left at 20:00 study centers, particularly from or 20:15 pm; I barely could leave public university, although there are from university, which was my Regional Centers in the country’s problem at Political Science School” departments but there are not a (Kikotemal, ECP Discussion Group, 2019).
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For Florencia, suffer and bear all and some of them stayed after work discrimination and harassment or to study, we looked for a way to pay experiences and all kinds of violence a ride, it was so hard, because it cost was due of the desire to finish the up to Q50.00 or Q60.00 each ride. For University. Bringing that achievement me coming to university was pure to her family because she knew what gold […]” (Florencia, interview, 2019). she was going to face when she started university, besides her family The student’s priority regarding to told her not to study a social degree university is higher to any kind of because it was dangerous, especially limitations faced in their way, such because her dad militated in social as ones generated by the migration spaces and was kidnapped and of people to other space such as the disappeared throughout Internal Guatemala City. For some of them Armed Conflict. Her mother has lived the term city is synonym of with the fear that something bad exclusion, discrimination, racism could happen to her daughters, due to diverse populations needs however, Florencia when she was a coming from other Guatemala’s child was interested in politics, departments, but also is synonym of indigenous people’s rights and in all cultural openness, art, and social social movements. Now she feels so consciousness, since being happy to have all the knowledge she embedded in social dynamic of has, to frequent and contribute in capital city marked by a social social criticism and analysis spaces. stratification of class, ethnic and She expects to get a degree of gender; it has generated in several International Relations and continue young women to take critical her studies but primarily find answers positions on it, about establishing about her missing father during the and holding their Mayan worldview, 80’s. their identity and all related to their My mom asked if I wanted to travel historical ancestral roots. As Pierre every day, and I said yes because I Bourdieu (2008) said “art and wanted to change my life, it was so science change meaning and value hard. I used to come home at 9:30 depending on a managing or pm, even asking for a ride to subordinated role they play” (p.86) anyone, all this during one year, and then when I meet my classmates
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Although it should be emphasized that IUMUSAC (by its acronym in this critic and conscious notions of Spanish), Folkloric Studies Center social reality from young people, in CEFOL (by its acronym in Spanish) this case Mayan women is because among others. Likewise, some they have had and accessed to academic units where has been means for critical consciousness, as looked and deepen in such unequal instance. Since the “chance to access and exclusionary social historical to diverse ways of power also varies relations through the study program, as the different indices of inherited however, much are still to construct cultural and social capital.” (Bourdieu, and strengthen. 2008, p.106) In the case of EFPEM it is a clear USAC as an institution that example that university careers as strengthens identity of Mayan Associate degree in Intercultural women students, beyond of racism Bilingual Education (EBI) has expressions suffered daily in such generated not only awareness in academic institution; the University Mayan women and men students, but also is and has been an institution also in half-breed and ladino about the which has contributed in criticism, historical deconstruction of genre and analysis and proposals to eradicate ethnic social relationships. racism in social relationships, as an Professors have been essential to example are all productions from the strengthening and self- several investigation centers such as recognition of Mayan identity in the Institute of Interethnic Studies IDEI young people at university. (by its acronyms in Spanish), (Discussion Group, 2019). University Institute for Women
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Chapter III
Mayan youth and Contemporary Identities
Mayan youth and contemporary Racism hey live and suffer daily. identities are a reflection that especially when talking about racism emerges from Mayan men and half- in social-academic imaginary Mayan breed and/or ladino women women are always involved as regarding to the feelings and subjects for whom talks are about, situation of Mayan women in the taking away their voice as direct USAC. The participation of half- subjects and actors who are breed and/or ladino Mayan women suffered racism, but particularly the and men was minimal in the omission of rebellion they have discussion groups, it was significant generated in response and way out to have other readings about how to several racism expressions in their social spaces. assume and perceive Mayan identity among Mayan, half-breed and/or In the case of the analysis and ladino women and men who are discussion about racism from Mayan aware and are critics of their own men, they always refered in third reality. person to Mayan women, it means that their discussion are focused on As stated above, it is necessary to racism against Mayan women, deepen about how men assume classmates and/or friends; such Mayan identity in different academic analysis is necessary in men, and non-academic social spaces, especially about having critical specifically how they live and face consciousness but especially about racism and discrimination. Since, in racism against all Mayan women Social Sciences studies little has and classmates, however it is not focused on this subject. It is essential enough, because a little or nothing to consider such social realities since is talking about the racism they racism and discrimination against suffer in an direct or indirect way, as Mayan women can’t be understood well as Mayan youth of sexual without have analytical reference and diversity. criticism from Mayan men about
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This observation was demonstrated am in my community it’s the same in discussion group where Mayan although it feels a little more, because Young students participated, when I wear my hat people look at me however, the need to listen their as saying, “what happen with you?” daily experiences by assuming their Likewise my classmates tell me “you Mayan identity in Guatemalan look fool and ridiculous” (2019). society was emphasized. In the Identity is constructed through time, same way, it is essential to indicate both in easy and hard times. There that Mayan classmates and half- are always positives although in breed and/or ladino woman and many cases to assume identity also men have contributed with the involves denial (Falla, 2010), as the strengthening of Mayan women’s cases stated in the previous identity in the University. This chapter. For being accepted, for chapter was presented as Mayan example in the student dynamic youth and contemporary identities some young people denied part of because identity is not something their identity, to assume the identity singular but multiple and it is of sancarlista young student. But is acquired and strengthened in many worth to mention these are other ways. identity categories which in some In the case of young Mayan people, cases are temporary, which to assume their Mayan identity has throughout the time Mayan students been part of a whole individual and ignore and assume other to identify collective historical process and them. resume some identity elements as To be clear about the notion of daily use such as the clothing, has identity, it is essential to forward to the generated questioning and Laclau’s ideas (1993, 1996, 2002, transgressions to the established 2004, 2015) about the empty and socio-cultural order, as Fernando floating signifiers, since to define the emphasize, - one of Mayan term identity is impossible because participants in discussion groups: there are different and multiple When I come to the University with definitions, concepts and notions my hat, here I don’t care what they about it as well as diverse ways to say; it is like the incitement you assume it, however, make to the system, and when I
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala several definitions and ways to reach social and political reality […] assume identity are applied as concepts not only serve to conceive models to others, which in theory the facts of such and such way, but and practice should contain all these they are projected to the future” diverse forms and conceptions of (pp.110-11) identity. But it does not happen in reality, some definitions of identity Sexual diversity and are overlap to others, some make it Mayan identity visible and others give diverse interpretations of it, etc. For that It is necessary to emphasize sexual reason, it is essential to make a diversity in Mayan population, conceptual history (Kosellek, 1993) although not any discussion group to understand what concepts and highlights this topic, but there are terms really means, especially what realities which are not visible in the social, political and historical production and academic analysis concepts responds or try to and not in social reality, but in this responds. In this way to accept student case in the USAC. identity from contemporary youth is also understand its sociohistorical The university has been a space where several identities bring context. together, where young people In the case of Mayan identity notion, become critical aware and being in a as described before, it is a space where the inequalities and reconstruction that involves the social exclusion by class, genre and historical reconstruction of ethnic are reflected and reproduced, Guatemala’s Mayan population. which are deepen more not only in Conceptualizing and defining Mayan critic but also the actions or possible identity is a daring and a big actions they can implement about it. responsibility, nevertheless, it is a Talking about sexual diversity re-signification and rebellion towards nationwide is still seeing as distrust, colonial concepts which have disqualification, denial and even defined the identity of native people, hate. The same happen in Mayan as Kosellek (1993) emphasized “the populations but if it is Reading from fight for the adequate “concepts” a non.-indigenous logic. Since
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 historical readings have been made patterns, norms and values that they about Mayan populations ways of must learn. One of these patterns is life from external perspectives which the denial and prohibition of do not perceive social Mayan reality. emotions, effectiveness, failures, weakness, ‘men are limited in the Understanding how diverse social field of emotions, they should not dynamics and sexual Mayan show affectivity, and that represent diversity coexistence is also masculinity’. Not being what they essential deepen in identities from are causes pain and suffering. Due Mayan youth. to an ideology and socialization The expression of emotions and agencies their human side have feelings in men is not allowed in been removed (Chirix, 2008, societies, but such expressions and pp.91,92). feeling manifestations are generated Mayan Young people’s interests and “in secret”. In the case of Mayan manifestations about their Mayan men it is more questioned, identity vindication and gender, especially when they assume their particularly from sexual diversity, open Mayan identity, but these identities new ways to address critically social can’t be seen contradictory since reality and especially make visible they are socially constructed. It diverse exclusions to which young means to think that Mayan identity is people are addressed who infringe the external to gender identity is order and social norms in this country. contradict the original worldview, since identity not only is collective It is worth to emphasize that Maya but also individual, both complement identity of people-history is acquired each other. However, in when we born and is manifested Guatemalan’s structure and social and developed according to the system identity is made as of denial individual and collective growing and of other, as well as gender, where its outreach and assertiveness is men are the contrast of being a taken when you are conscious of it, woman. with it others identities are manifested such as gender, class, In the construction of male etc. domination there are socio-cultural
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Appropriation of Mayan identity as an historical awareness in half-breed youth
Mayan identity is acquired when you The interest to accept denied people grow up and when you train in it. But in the country’s history, assuming also it can be shared and acquired the need of deconstruct their through the awareness of native thinking and actions to a dignified people history. In the case of non- respect of native and afro Maya young students can be an descendants populations has been awareness to assume and self- a path generated and promoted identified themselves as Maya, but from half-breed and/or ladino also to understand its sense and population areas, although these meaning for Mayan population, to have been minimums contributions understand it as an historical they have generated consciousness construct of people, community, and in strategical spaces, such as the individualities. By raising and academy, arts, music, media, etc.; contextualize the importance of as well as contributions made by recognition and acceptance of Mayan women and men in spaces Mayan identity, Mayans are going to as before mentioned. In this way place it in their historical origins. has been generated and opening to that critical consciousness and Just by the knowledge of the proactive regarding to colonial social population’s history, in this case structure. half-breed and/or ladino this acceptance will be the opening to This analysis is made from what recognition, respect and approval of Mayan students stated, where some diverse people in Guatemala. The of them emphasized that their half- pursuit of half-breed and/or ladino breed and/or ladino classmates has population history is in native and been an important part to remain in afro descendants people history in the University, not desert or change Guatemala, their reality is crossed their career study, and/or manifest and also emerged by the history of their identity without any fear. people denied as Maya, Garífuna or Xinca. Mayan women students said that not having friends or Mayan people in
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in their class, they have meet half- Katherine is a half-breed student of breed and /or ladino strong friendship an Associate degree in intercultural and they have been “lifesavers” at Bilingual Education EFPEM, USAC. hard times especially when they are She admits not be Maya, or be born victims of racism in ordinary spaces. into a Mayan family, but it does not As Carolina, an Agronomy and limit her to identify herself with Engineering student said, made Mayan culture more than her culure reference to her half-breed/ladino as half-breed. Her friendships are friends, “as students those bad Maya and half-breed. She questions comments affects us psychologically, historical inequalities towards but when we hear good comments Mayan populations, especially these help to keep us going, and to against women. But assuming continue wearing our clothing” (2019, Mayan identity as her own, she has Interview) received questionings and discriminations because in the social It should be clarified, that not all imaginary, being half-breed or ladino university’s classmates are open- and identify as Maya is like to minded and with critical downgrade her social status and consciousness. Mayan women, assume less importance. particularly students from other departments, who from their own I have identified a little more with the perspective and experiences think Kaqchikel Mayan culture because is that non-Mayan students from the the one which I share and learned countryside are more critics and the language, it has motivated me to aware about inequalities and identity myself as Maya Kaqchikel exclusions to what Mayan people […] it is an important step in my life have been positioned and because a lot of people asked me, maintained. Besides, the majority of ‘why are you learning that? Why did half-breed/ladino friendships they you study this career? Why are you share similar ways and customs of Kaqchikel? When would you have life, for example, to bring lunch and better obpportunities? tortillas wrapped in napkins and eat I felt discrimination with these in group, to visit the fairs, parties of questions, and that transfromation I their villages, eat food from their have done in my life has made me region, etc.
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able to identify myself as Maya At university, (going back to the Kaqchikel, and also by the previous example) Mayan languages coexistence and contact with these in several academic units more than a people. (Katherine. Discussion real necessity for students it has been Group 2019) taken as a requirement to finish a university career, in others academic Katherine’s experience, is a good units Mayan languages simply do not example that only by returning the appear in its requirements. In other history of their ancestors (Segato, words, if within the University, 2010, 1999) to half-breed academic and critical consciousness populations, consciousness is taken to deconstruct exclusive and racist are not promoted, if new critical daily life, but for it, there must be perspectives and real and daily means, such as cultural capital, incorporation of knowledges of Maya, institutions, etc. (Bourdieu, 2001, Garífuna and Xinca populations are 2008). In other words, in the case of not generated in study programs, it is university student populations unlikely that half-breed or ladino accede to Mayan knowledges for students incorporate it in their daily example, through languages, reality and future professional professorships, courses, university participation in the society. graduates, postgraduate careers, As Elsa’s case, Maya Kaqchikel, etc., is one of many ways of and her friend Marlee, half-breed, coexistence and learning about both of them studied the same diverse cultures and people in university career at Political Science Guatemala. In this way, the privileges of non-Maya populations School, they physically and could be deconstructed and emotionally encourage each other. questioned again about Maya, Marlee is respectful and shows Garífuna and Xinca populations. interest in Elsa’s culture and way of life.
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Chapter IV
Life Stories
Source: IIPS, Psychological Study Area, 2019.
Carolina Vásquez: life story traditional clothing from their village. She said that her first blouse was Carolina Vásquez, Maya kaqchikel, made by her mother, she remember it was born on August 29, 1998 in San because it was a gift, and she wanted Andrés Itzapa, Chimaltenango. She is to wear it all the time. She speaks the eldest of six siblings, was the first Kaqchikel language, even though it granddaughter in her family and is the was not her mother language, but she only who study in the Agronomy and has tried to improve the Mayan Engineering Faculty of USAC. Her language. Of her siblings, she is the parents are teachers, her mom is only who speaks Kaqchikel, she is retired. trying to encourage them to learn it. From a youg age Carolina and her She learned it from her father, sisters where dressed with the because when she was at 5th grade he was his teacher. 88
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Source: Carolina Vásquez’ foto album, 2019.
Their parents had not taught or told to their children; now they regret not them about Mayan worldview taught them the Kaqchikel language because their parents were not as mother tongue. interested that their children learn The change in attitude about Mayan and grow up under Mayan world worldview was so great in Carolina’s vision, especially speaking kaqchikel parents becauset their last language, due to what they have daughters were called with Mayan suffered during their childhood, and names, Ix’kotsi’j, Ix’mucané and they did not want their children Ix’chu- mi’l, there are names that experienced the same or worst appear in the Popol Wuj. Their discriminations. In this stage her parents emphasized that they must family were evangelicals, but then wear, respect and honor all they stopped going to church, during millennial historyto which they are that time her dad began working at attached. the Kaqchikel Foundation in Chimaltenango, there his Mayan First daughter and granddaugther worldview knowledges were of the family. deepen, then both mom and dad decided to transfer this knowledge I’m the oldest, also the first
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 granddaughter, I was raised in a large child he worked at a Foundation family, because in the house where called Kaqchikel, he went to work too we live, my four uncles (dad’s early, at 4:00 am and came back until brothers) live, being the first baby midnight or 10:00 pm, those days girl in the family I was accepted and were rarely when he came back at the most of my uncles took care of 7:00 pm. me […] I grew up with my father’s And my mom always was working mother she was looking out for me half a day until afternoon; went to that’s what photographs show. I was my grandmother’s house was an two years and seven months when habit because she lives near our my brother Miguel born and I was 4 house, during mornings I always years when my second brother was with her, I grew up with her. Israel also born, and from that time I grew up with my grandmother; and We also visited my mother’s mother, since I was little I have worn my Anita Salas, sometimes on Mayan clothing […] my mom says weekends. She lived in the center of that when I was a child, I did not San Andrés Itzapa, near to the park. wanted to wear my clothing so then She always brought me little toys my mom hid all my overalls, pants, […] those simple things, sometimes trousers […] so I had to wear my you missed until now. She died Mayan clothing. I think after all I got because of cancer, it affected me so used to dress like that, it was much, and I stayed away from my something good about my mom. classmates I got sick for a while because I miss her a lot. Since a young age I always went out with my grandmother wherever she During my childhood, I always went and wanted, I was always with remember I had everything I wanted, her, she is the best for me […], we they never denied me something, and always went to bring firewood or we I always had toys. When my parents visited one of her sisters who lived in were in financial problems, my aunt a village […] it was so funny, she (my mom’s sister) she took me for a always visit her brother too. I was walk and we most of the time played raised with my grandmother because together, and even we went to fairs, my mom worked all day, my dad too, that’s why I like fairs because it they are teacher, at first my dad had a always bring me good memories. job, I remember that when I was a
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I had a photograph where I am in a ever choose me instead my brothers, Ferris wheel with her, she always because they were always with my took me to all these activities, she mom.
Source: IIPS, Sociological Study Area, 2019.
I also went with my grandmother two braids on my hair, I was carrying a Regina; every Tuesday I remember little hamper, which my aunt gave me, woke up early, because she used to to go to the market, I ever did. My go these days to the market, there in grandmother always invited me to a Itzapa Tuesdays and Sundays are cup of atol blanco (a drink made with market’s days. So every Tuesday I corn), I regularly bought an avocado woke up early, I did it since and toast. When it was time for fairs, she during all elementary school […], I always took me there or sometimes remember my mom told me “if you we were there every day of the week, want to go out, you have to help she constantly bought me toy dishes, here in the house”, we finished to mud toys which are traditional at breakfast and I washed the dishes, Itzapa fairs, and we also bought and well, my mom never allow me to sweets. My grandmother always go out with trousers, or pants, I bought me a little straw basket, then always wore my corte and my huipil, little pots, small watering cans, and she ever dressed me and made me one censer, little cups […]
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We played with toy dishes and drank had, because my grandfather drank a atol with my siblings […] they lot of alcohol, and sometimes he hurt accepted the games I suggested. her; however I never saw her sadness, she always motivated me, With my mom’s dad, I began to share my grandmother Anita.. with him until when I attended to secondary school, I hardly spoke with My father’s parents are farmers too, I him because he had stayed away hardly spent time with my grandfather, from everyone since my grandmother I just say hello, I know he is at home. died, and it affected him a lot, he got We have played the game lotería in away from the family. He is not able to the fair with him when we were walk, so I began to visit him. One day younger, but it was just my I had a homework about asking a grandmother intention, she tried to grandfather something, and he knows involve us to spent time with him. a lot of histories […] he started to telling me diverse stories and that is how […], I visit him each eight or fifteenth days, when I have time, and now I spent a lot of time with him, he is a great person. But before that when I went to visit my grandmother I hardly spoke with him because he was working in the field, he is a farmer, he has been a farmer all his life, my grandmother too, even though she stayed in the house, she sold things at the market, I just wanted to visit her –with my other grandmother-, I did it just for her, because I love saw where she was selling things, always smiling despite of the problems she
Source: Carolina Vásquez’s Photo Ambum, 2019.
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With my dad, we went to play out at problems, more in that time because the street, he look for stones and put my brother got sick of meningitis, so them as a goal, we always have one of my uncles made an loan to my balls in the house […] I hardly dad, it was a critical time where my played dolls or toy dishes […], we parents did not have enough incomes, played with little cars toys, marbles, because all money they earned was to and spinning tops, time before we pay the loan, it was quite money. By saw children playing those games that time, my dad was a tailor and that I used to play when I was gave some training at the National younger. Literacy Committee CONALFA (by its I always have everything, clothes, acronyms in Spanish), my mom did shoes, and even we have been not work, and I did not ask her, why? updated in technology thanks to my I was ten when my sister Ix’kotzi’j dad, when Discman were launched born, she was a baby, it was he brought us one of it, he brought something very sad […] I don’t us movies too. When he was a know, or maybe happy… It was trainee at Cocales, he ever brought funny, because when they bothered us fruits, even at night he tried to me they said, ‘if the baby is a girl, wake up us or sometimes we waited awake for him, because we already you are not going to be the favorite knew where he was going. anymore’ or ‘if it’s a girl your parents are not going to love you anymore’, I My dad is an active person, he was a child, so those comments hurt always brings us together, and my me […] mom is very quiet, strict, and demanding about doing tasks. Once When I was seven years, we never we wanted to go out, but I think they stopped to attend to the evangelical did not have enough Money for that, church, after that, my dad was so they did a family activity with submerged into Mayan worldview costumes then we were all and that’s why they didn’t gave us afternoon playing it. Mayan names because he did not understand such world enough. My parents always have looked ways we do not notice family’s financial
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When my sister was born, my dad said ‘no, you have to learn some taught us all the knowledge he was profession because you are growing learning, for that reason my sistter is up, and you get more responsibility’ called Ix’kotzij Kab’Awij’, I think my and I said that I didn’t want to learn dad found it at the oldest Popol Wuj, anything. and her name means Double Vision Flower; and my other sister is called It was the closing ceremony of sith Gabriela Ixmukané. grade, my dad took me for a walk at San Antonio Aguascalientes; there is My identity knitted my own well known because their people huipil made those marked hupiles, those so beautiful, there they sell a lot of My mom made me a blouse with threads, people combine its colors, it little pearls, it was my favorite is an amazing place. I choose blue because I liked it, when my mom color, not because it was my favorite washed it and when it was already or liked it. Then my dad told me “well, dry I wore it, I didn’t care. My mom you are going to go with your aunt to can embroider; she made me my learn how made hupiles, you have to first blouse. go every day, you have to follow your I really enjoyed to play, when I was aunt’s schedule”. in sixth grade of primary school, I My aunt Romelia worked as nurse; still went out to play with my sometimes I visited her during the Friends, during fifth and sixth grade I mornings and I came back to home had more freedom, I went to the in the afternoons, I always got there rivers, where rivers were still clean, by walking from my house to hers, it we went to swim or play with my wasn’t far away, but at my age I felt friend, I still talk to one of them such walk very tired. She is very because we are neighbors. At my strict teaching, and always said me friend’s grandmother house, there ‘you have to do it well, to learn it was a medlar tree and my friend well, bring a pencil, your notebook, climbed the tree and cut some fruits write it down everything you forget and almost every night we ate them. or what you want to do […] if you It was so fun. My dad, seeing that, want to do a sash, this is done like
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Source: IIPS, Sociological Study Area, 2019. this, if you want to do a huipil this is how to knit, but they did not like it. done like this’; it was an amazing My aunt Romelia said that my great- experience, my aunt has loved me grandmother taught her, but she so much since I was a child she was always interested about it, you always has given me gifts […] my have to use a warp to make the aunt Romelia is my mother’s sister, loom, you have to weave, so my she encourage me to go every day aunt did it to learn (they didn’t have to her house to learn knitting art. resources to buy threads or materiasl) she said that when she That year I made a huipil and well, I was younger she brought two reeds learned to make many designs, and planted them on the ground, several huipiles’ figures, I gave that and says that she rolled a lot of huipil to my mom. I think I was 12 or ropes and made a loom, she began 11 years […]. I am the only one in to learn like this, so then seeing my the family who has had the privilege great-grandmother –because she of that transmission of knowledge, knitted, although I don’t know who my dad’s sister also knit. My two taught her it, my aunt was interested aunts wanted to teach my cousins about it, my great-grandmother used
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 to sell corn and bought threads for are used, why certain sticks are used, my aunt, and taught her how to all of this was explained by my aunt, weave, she also bought her weaving my dad also did it, and understand sticks, material, she still conserved these stories touched me because my them and are like a relic, something clothes have a meaning, has a why, a special for her. purpose, and I am proud about what I do, all of this would be simple for When she tell her story I feel like another culture but for me it is […], I want to teach it to my sisters, invaluable and now I know why. but I am here all day so I don’t have enough time to teach them, and also We knew our stories, and my little sister is getting interest on it that’s how we learned our because she say ‘I want to learn and culture do that’, my sisters are growing up almost at the same time […] they I was five and a half years old when I have worn Mayan clothing during all began elementary school I started their lives. from first grade and I didn’t course kindergarten, I had an amazing I think what influenced me was that I experience I still remember it, my started to make my own clothes mom couldn’t took me to the school because since there I began to do so my uncle did it (he always took me more research about how or why they to the school) I remember that day did it. My dad told me the story that because I had a lot of emotions, I was during colonization times Mayan scared, curious and happy, and my women needed to express and they uncle said to me “if you cry, I’m going did not know how, so they express all to tell your mom not to dress with your their feeling through clothes, the clothes (my favorite blouse)”, and I huipil. It touched me so much and said “I have to learn”, I was so made me want to identify myself with curious. clothes, it was about the design, and how textile was made, because all of During all elementary school years, I this is related with the Mayan never wore uniform; I just wore calendar, the amount of threads that pants in sport class and even for the
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Antorcha (the independence torch understand why, because we did the run) I dressed with my Mayan same games, but it was different, clothing, because I did not feel maybe because they made groups, comfortable wearing pants or other which is hard for me because I like kinds of clothes. At school dressed to get along with everyone and with uniform was not mandatory, I when I saw groups I didn’t do just had to wear sweater and I felt anything and stayed quiet. comfortable with it. Third grade was the hardest for me The school was near to my house, I because my grandmother Ana was in that school since first to third passed away, it affected me so grade. I had the best teacher during much, I changed school and went to those grades, she is Maya but she a private one with my siblings. I does not wear Mayan clothing, she regretted because in that school wear trousers, she’s married with a they accept children with family’s ladino man, I think that’s why she problems, so such child have grew up together and I was the new one, does not wear her clothing. I didn’t my mom worked there but just in the knew where to sit, and I remember afternoons, and I studied in the that some classmate said me “come mornings. I didn’t adapt to it, I didn’t here”, and they pointed to me and have any friends or spent time with said “sit here, I’m scared too” […] I anyone, I just get along with my wasn’t friendly at that time, during all siblings and their classmates. elementary school, I hardly spoke with someone, I was a quiet person. Fourth grades was also hard for me, the teacher had preference to I used to say my mom everything I certain persons. I made group’s did, what teachers taught me and works but just that, I did not spend even at elementary school I was too time with my classmates. responsible, I just come to my house and I began homework, then I went Then during fifth grade my dad got a out to play with some friends, I think I job´s opportunity at my first school, was more adapted with them rather and I came back where I studied than with my classmates, I do not before, I came there and everyone looked at me as a stranger
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my dad was my teacher during fifth sometimes I asked him, “and when and sixth grade, he taught me you get married, what are you going to Kaqchikel language, he always has teach his children? What identity spoken it since he was a kid, but he they’re going to have?”, because it is wasn’t interested on it, that’s why we something confusing, my brother never learned such language, first would have strengthened his Mayan because he believed if we learn it identity but his wife would not like we will be discriminated at school, his identity, that is something I because he grew up with that always argue with them, and even opinion, he even had a teacher who they get angry because I said that, beat him just because he spoke but I am the only one who speak Kaqchikel, I thought that’s why my Kaqchikel with them […], I speak, father was not interested on it, it was write and sometimes read in something prohibit here in Kaqchikel, my dad bought me poetry Guatemala they just have to speak in that language so I spent time Spanish, so then my dad began to reading it. teach us Spanish, until at the school he taught us Kaqchikel and he did it I think my father learned Mayan well because he worked at woldview and started teach us about Kaqchikel Foundation and learned a nahuales, Mayan ceremonies, the lot about Mayan worldview since meaning and importance of our lifes, then he changed his mind and way even he taught us to respect Mother of being. Nature, we did not understand at the beginning, but when he started My siblings didn’t speak Kaqchikel, I do it with my parents and express all instilling all to us, that is something to them, and I even scold my sibling in we accepted and it is something Kaqchikel […], I tried to teach and amazing, we learned a lot of things, instill them the language, but it is we knew new histories, about how complicated with them, first because several things happen and a lot of my second brother has a close information he gave us, and that is relationship with a ladino girl, so why we have learned about our culture.
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I thought there was no other During secondary school I had many stage in study teachers, and there were several Mayan teachers. At the beginning of January, my parents talked with me (because My sister Ixmucané was born when I according to me I was not continued was in ninth grade. In that time my with my studies, I thought there was parents already asked me about no other stage to study, I believed what study career I was going to that the last one was sixth grade), choose, but the truth was that I they told me “you are going to study didn’t want to study teaching, I said at the school where your mom is “no, I don’t like to be the same, working”, where I studied fourth because all my cousins, parents, grade, I had hard times there, and I aunts and uncles have studied didn’t feel comfortable to study teaching, so it was like a tradition in there. My parents didn’t give me a my family that all women studied it”, choice, they said “you have to go, but at that time teaching careers willingly or not, if not, do what you was not available and my parents want, look for a job, or you are going told me “well you have to choose to knit, you have to do something”, I something that benefits you”, I didn’t didn’t understand why they did it, but want to study teaching, I did not like now I realized they just were taking it and I said “I don’t want to do what care of me. my cousins do” […], I only have a cousin who is teacher, she worked At the school I always dressed with teaching, and she’s ending her law Mayan clothing, I just bought a degree, she’s the only one, but the sweater and sport uniform, there at others just graduated from high secondary school I met a girl called school and got married, they are not Lesly, I adapted to her quickly working, they do not do anything just because she also wore her Mayan stay at their houses; I didn’t want clothing, I said “she’s my culture, I that. can get along with her so well”, we were standard-bearers of our class; I remember that one day I was in I spent a lot of time in my home, I class (ninth grade) then some young read a lot of books, studied quite a people came in to promote the lot, I was very studious at that time. institution where I studied and I liked it, and caught my attention because
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 it was related to Mayan worldview about surgery wouldn’t go well, it was and I said “this is the study career I like a pause for me, I was afraid to want”, that same day I told my dad study a new career during the whole “hey, this is the career I want to day, although my mom told me “you study and I don’t want teaching, not have to go on”, I was afraid because if even a high school teaching career, the surgery fail I would have to take I don’t want that, I chose this care of all, I mean, my family, because (Industrial Expert in Food I’m the oldest, I was a bit scared, but Processing). my mom was there, the surgery went well. So my parents talked with me and said “hey, we want you to involve at High school was a complicated any field”, my dad told me “I know stage, maybe good because I had a you’re able to do anything, and if lot of experiences, my thoughts you want to study there, so I will changed. The institute was in give you the opportunity, but you Patzicía, Chimaltenango, near to the have to finish it, I don’t wanted you park. The first day of high school I with a boyfriend and then not finish went alone, my parents said “I was the career, I don’t want it for you”, old, and I have to learn how to do “you’re the first granddaughter and thing alone because they will not be the only woman who is started her there forever so you have to learn path”, “never forget your Mayan how to develop in life”. I was afraid clothing” […]. about how to please people, what I have to do? Those things made me My dad gave me the opportunity to feel bad, when I saw my classmates choose my career, but in that time I said ‘at least someone known here’ we got news, my mother was […], we were twenty, a classmate pregnant, but unfortunately the baby came up and said, “where are you was not born, the baby died, she from?, I’m from Itzapa and she too”, was called Ixchumil’, it was so I started to talk […], they were heartbreaking for my mom, I noticed friendly, it was totally a different a change in my mom she was like world to what I already lived in depressed, sad, I don’t know […], elementary and secondary school, then more news my mom had because classmates took us into fibroids in her womb, she was so account at any situation or in groups depressed because she had fear works, we became good friends
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it was like my second family, there Another experience that causes me were just five men in my class, Rudy, panic was my first day of Antonio, Héctor, David and Mauricio, professional practice, I began it my best friends. since tenth grade, I studied during fifteen days and then I practice other fifteen days. My professional practice was an amazing experience because I learned to do all the processes, and even my boss, the coordinator who was there gave me the laboratory keys so I could control everything, also with the other worker at the botanical garden I learned how to do organic fertilizers, dehydrated, I saw greenhouses, so I went into depth with field work, I never regret about it because I liked to learn. We were to give several trainings, the last one was my final grade of the year, I had to give one in Nahualá I prepared all my academic material, the boss was surprised because he didn’t know Source: Carolina Vásquez, Photo Album 2019. that I speak Kaqchikel, and when I
was there in that community, most of I met a person who was studying the woman there did not speak eleventh grade of high school, and I Spanish, so I began speaking in started to go out with him, Kaqchikel. He complimented me and sometimes he visited me and my said “if one day the company starts parents scolded me, they said to grow or produce again, I will not “you’re beginning your studies, and have any doubt to call you and offer that’s what we didn’t want, and said you a job position” […], I had and a lot of things like that”, so for that amazing experience. reason I got away from him.
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My parents always had been proud During the end of professional of me, because I have always tried practice I had a heartbreaking to be aware of my activities, since experience because one of my high school I started to do my things classmates passed away, It was alone, I got used to do those things painful, every day I remember him it alone. I know how to solve any issue affected me because he always was or situation, and when I already there for me, helping and solved them, I told my parents about encouraging me, he said “hey, we have to be the best students, I know them. Yes, I was so responsible, I you can do it, me too, I want to was not interested being standard- support you, we will finish and bearer but I was among the best graduate”. students. I was in practice when my The eleventh grade of high school classmates called me and said he was a complicated process, it was by passed away. He was practicing at semesters, the first one was about the city, in a laboratory and I don’t professional practice in a company know why, I knew some issues he and the second one was about made had, but I think he killed himself, a community analysis. During the first when I heard it I feel so sad, I semester a lot of things happened, I couldn’t avoid his death, it was so did my practice in Tecpán; I had to go sad and heartbreaking. It affected alone, I looked solutions to cross the me so much I went to the class and forest road alone. My parents never cried, he sat next to me. When we accompanied me, I always crossed it came back to the institute to show alone, during all the years; I learned our project, you can feel the so much thing on each area, there difference about his presence, it was was just work and work, and at the like a group separation between same time learn and ask. I dressed classmates. with my Mayan clothing, but to getting there I had to wear trouser, that’s why I started to wear trousers, because of the norms and safety of the place.
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During high school I had a person about it, more than the knowledges I who helped me, I began a already have, I didn’t want to study relationship with him, and he was at just high school I wanted to continue the last grade when I was in my studies, so then I started looking eleventh grade at the same institute. for information about an industrial It causes me afraid because my engineering. parents didn’t know about him, he was my first boyfriend. My boyfriend, is a very jealous person, he was no longer studied, The last year of high school, I he was just working, he said if I became irresponsible with works, I studied at the university I wouldn’t leave expositions at the last minute, spent time with him […], it was like if and the teachers noticed that and he didn’t want that I continue study, they scolded me. The final project he wanted me to work and study on presentation all my classmates did weekends, and he was going to products innovation; I was the only study on weekends too. I did not like one who did a research paper “Re- to be under someone commands, I isolation of Microbiological Strains”. liked to be free, I do things that I My parents didn’t attend because enjoy to do until achieve them, my they have to take care of a property dad also told me he was going to deed. From fifteen students just five support me […], thanks to all the were chosen for the award of the experiences I had during three years presented project. of professional practice, I got a job At my graduation, my parents were offer, so I began to work in surprised because they didn’t know I December. had boyfriend, they knew it until that When I began my university exams, day. I was a little scared to break up with The institute motto was “learning by my boyfriend, but then I spoke with doing”, so then I reflected, I had the my mother and she said “you must knowledges and now I have to to study; you don’t have to do what implemented them and that’s why I your boyfriend want, you have to be liked agribusiness, so when I free and take your own decisions, decided to study at high school, I he has to understand that you are thought I have to create my own going to study there; your dad is company, but first I have to learn all going to help you”
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So she encouraged me to continue other activities, and due that, I had my admission process to the faculty, an accident and I broke my feet, so I so then, I graduated from high couldn’t continue my studies that school, I said good bye to my year, my parents were disappointed classmates, I am the only one who with me because I lied to them, they continued with university studies. thought I was at the university but it This new change was completely wasn’t true. I was delayed one different, so I broke up with my university year; my dad told me if I boyfriend, since there I had been want continue my studies or not, alone. they didn’t want to help me anymore, I think that were two The first time I came to the deceptions in my family because my University was to ask for vocational brother Israel, the third one, was test. My dad accompanied me studying high school and he didn’t because I didn’t know where the bus pass the semester, he couldn’t stops were. repeat it again because the school I was accepted in the Faculty of changed the study program, so Agronomy, when I came to the then, both my brother and I were university it was something different, looking for a job. the first induction week I couldn’t The only friend I had from Itzapa attend the first day but until the went to the United States; he second one, and it also was difficult graduated from high school and also because I didn’t know anyone but I had family issues, then he left, he met a girl from Itzapa, and she encouraged me and said “here, in introduced me with more friends, I USA life is not easy, they kill us, met Carmen, Cristina, Flor, Mafer they humiliate us, and do bad things […]. to us, I want you to become a Last year I became irresponsible, I successful woman, I want the best didn’t attend to class regularly, I for you […], I know that your parents spent time with my friend Francis, threaten you that they won’t help and we both regretted about do that. you anymore but they will not do We went to lunch or we went to her anything, they are going to continue house, we hang out together, we did helping with your studies”.
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Every time I remember that, I think Sometimes I was out of home during maybe it happened because I weeks, they noticed my effort to wanted to experience new things, change, so then my dad said “I know my mom said people influence us, you’re going to change […], you are but no, they never forced me to do going to continue your studies, I just something but it was my decision, it want to see your courses and took my attention and I had no schedule because I’m going to control control over it. your time”. That’s why I started again this year, and the true is that I don’t do Thanks to my parents I continued anything of the activities I did before, my studies, they understood me, now I have a better communication and my grandmother scolded me with my family, because I had lost it too. I hardly coexisted with my before. cousin but one day she came with me and told me “hey, of all the When I went out and didn’t attend to cousins I have, you’re the only one I class, I dressed with trousers and admire […], I know you are delayed left behind my Mayan clothing, my one year but don’t give up, if your parents thought it was because parents support you, go ahead, fieldwork, then they got it. This year don’t work, a job is good but first they say “now you’re going to study” study and then you are going to bothering me, because I wear my have a better job opportunity” […] Mayan clothing. and that motivated me to continue at My mom always motivate me about the University”. using my clothing corte, and huipil I talked with my parents, I […], the true is that my mom is the apologized, but they didn’t trust in person who I admire the most, she me for what I did last year, for lying had experienced worst situations to them. I became a better person I have learned my lesson; during by the end of December until now, I twenty years my whole life has been have different attitudes, and I began full of happiness, sadness, crazy to coexist more with my family stuff and more. If I can achieve all because I hardly stayed at home, my dreams, if I graduate from
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University I hope to travel and visit Japan, go to fairs and to an anime convention. I also think about share my life with someone, as my dad says ‘it is necessary to share your life with someone special, because it is like a life complement, having child […], in a short time I want to travel, graduate from University, being a businesswoman and implement all what I learned until now.
Lesly Ixq’nil: life story
Lesly Ixq’nil, Maya kaqchikel from San Juan Sacatepéquez of Guatemala department, she’s 21 years old, student of an Associate degree in Intercultural Bilingual Education at EFPEM of San Carlos University of Guatemala. She is the oldest child and third granddaughter of the family. Source: Lesly Ixq’nil’s Photo Album, 2019. Her brother Manuel a student of an grandmother Agustina passed away Associate degree in education when Lesly was twelve years old specialized in Mathematics and and her dad’s father Ernesto passed Physics at USAC, her sister Cindy is away when she was 15 years old. still studying at elementary school. Her mother work selling breakfasts at Lesly and her family live in a house San Juan Sacatepéquez and her where they share the yard with her father work at Las Flores cemetery as uncle and aunt (both her dad’s a warehouse head. siblings), it means that the house is Her father´s mother Eugenia live close divided into three families. The yard is to her house and her mother’s father the meeting place of the family; there live just a few houses away, Lesly Lesly grew up playing with her can occasionally see them. Her cousins.
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but she is learning it. During elementary and secondary school she wore uniform, since a young age she suffered discrimination, she preferred not to wear her Mayan clothing because they questioned her (especially in class) and she didn’t know what to say. She began to be aware of her Mayan identity due to both familiar and student experiences, however, was at the University where Lesly strengthen her Mayan identity.
Childhood and familiar responsibilities
When I was child my mom told me that I had to help in the kitchen, I Source: Lesly Ixq’nil’s Photo Album 2019. hated be there, it was what I dislike
the most about my childhood, I didn’t Lesly wore Mayan clothing since even walk near the kitchen because I child but she also wore trousers or already knew what my mother say me dresses, they gave her the to do, that’s why I prefer being out opportunity to choose how she running, jumping, playing with my wants to dress. Both her mother and cousins o doing something, and my father didn’t speak Kaqchikel mom said “those games are just for language, which reflect the no boys, girls have to help in the house, transmission of language from her washing, cooking (making tortillas)”, family, in the case of her mother so I told her I want to be a boy and (Carmen), her parents’ job was then I went out to play. But throughout limited so Carmen didn’t learn the time I like cooking and I’m thanked Mayan language. Lesly’s father (Víctor) his father didn’t want his with mi mom by her insistence, she children to learn Kaqchikel because said something that attracted me to he said it will be for nothing. Lesly the kitchen like “if you come, I’ll give does not know kaqchikel perfectly you something I have here”.
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When I was a child, I had a choleric divided into three parts, there is my temper, I got angry so fast, I fought house, my uncle’s house and my about everything, I loved that feeling aunt’s house, but all the houses are when I won all the fights, I enjoyed linked with the yard, it was our fighting with my brother and sister. meeting place with my cousins, we We live here since I born, in San live there together, we have been a Juan Sacatepequez, the property is united family.
Source: Lesly Ixq’nil’s Photo Album, 2019.
My parents told me that they began and the sash. I loved the first huipil my to dress me with Mayan clothing grandmother gave me, but that dress until I was two years and a half, the was only to go to the church or a first sanjuanero dress I wore was a party, otherwise I didn’t wear it. My gift from my grandmother Agustina grandmother Eugenia, made me two my mom’s mother, it was the best blouses one purple and other was sky for me, my first Mayan clothing, she blue color. I still have them; I enjoyed also gave me a pair of silver wearing both blouses […]. earrings, I still have my huipil and
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My mother always told me that it house. We visited them almost every was my clothing and I must to wear day at afternoons when we left the it, on the other hand my father said school. I appreciate my mom and “look at this dress, do you like it? dad’s parents because I lived with Look at this trouser, or that blouse”, them in different ways and spaces, but so then I think I had the opportunity we always coexisted together. My to choose between both options, I mom’s mother was called Agustina, prefer one more than another and my dad’s mother Eugenia. I didn’t because sometimes I wore dress, like both names; my dad’s mom said my parents got married in church that is not good to give a baby a when I was seven, because before I grandparents name because it is like was born, they just got married by to impose something about that the registry office, my dad told me to person, so my grandmother told my wear a dress he bought for me […], dad to look for different names they I wore my dress to play like princess like, so this will give to a new baby with a crown, I always had the their own identity, from the beginning”. freedom of say no about my clothes, but my mom always said “wore this, I hardly copied something from my I bought you a blouse, a corte”, she grandmothers, anyone of them is a loved to dress us alike, she bought a weaver, and I love waist loom corte and gave me one for me, she weaving, so it is as my grandmother ordered to make a blouse for her said “you are creating your own and one for me, and both dressed identity from what you like to do”, my identical wherever we went. So, it grandmother made blouses with was beautiful memories about my flowers but it does not interested me. childhood, my mom instilled me to My grandmother Eugenia said that wear Mayan clothing. nobody in her family was a weaver; they worked as farmers, all her When my mom got married she went grandparents, her grandmothers put to live at my dad’s house, with her on their mecapal (a band used across mother in law, so my grandmother forehead to carry objects in their Lived with my grandfather, but we back), their hampers and they went lived one kilometer away from their early to see the cornfield and bean
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plants, sometimes my mom went to professional doing that. I told my check the planting while her mom I will continue to attend the daughters stayed at home and course “I feel here is my place, this cooked the lunch for her. My mom’s is for me”, so she told me okay. I father remembered that his mother’s started to attend the courses every sister (his aunt) was a weaver. My Sunday and we had to buy all the mom’s mother also planted corn, material. So I went to the market and beans, herbs, and then they sold bought a lot of weaving sticks, I have them, my family always worked in twenty of them in different sizes. agriculture trade. I felt that all of this was my destiny I discovered a weaving course so I and during my practice I made just began it last year […], they said napkins because we had to pay to “weaving is related to our life, it has the trainers, at that time I didn’t have to pass through the K’ux (heart), it is a job so I dropped out of the course. where threads pass, our hearts, but I began looking for a weaver and I it not always pass in a direct found one, she was my neighbor, I direction but sometimes it pulled asked her if she wanted to train me, other threads to an incorrect one, so so she said “I’m glad you asked me, that is how our life works, we have I always wanted to teach my to be in harmony to our thread pass granddaughters but they said correctly and our life works well”. I weaving is not for them, I feel if I was surprised, our teacher train someone he or she is going to suggested us to visit a woman who remember me forever, is sad for me was weaving, when we were looking that my granddaughters don’t want at her, she asked me if I want to try, to learn it but I’m happy you choose so I said yes, it was the first time I me, you will never forget me”. I did it and felt like a shiver running remember that one day she started inside of me […], I felt like if I was a to cry, it was very touching and I cried to […].
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Adolescence: rebelliousness the commitment, instead by the and search for identity church it wasn’t allow, if you got married in church the commitment is My mom’s mother Agustina, passed forever, for all your life, that is why away eight years ago, because of they decided just get married by cancer […], I remember she was at registry office, so we were born in a the Antigua Hospital, she called her stable home and until everything was sons and said she wanted to stay at well, they decided to get married in her house, that all was alright, they church. did that, she stayed at her house just two days, then she died […]. I feel that I have a good communication with my brother, My mom, before she got married, because we were raised together, she sold food and tortillas, my dad my birthday is on September 19 and worked in a furniture shop. They got my brother celebrates it on married just by the registry office, September 17, so since he was born and then one year later I was born, my parents celebrate our birthdays after two years my brother was born. together. We had everything my At that time I began walking, from a parents could give us. When my young age I attended to my therapy sister was born, I felt so bad, treatments because I couldn’t wear any shoe but I had to use special because I was a child, my mom had steel-toe boot to be able to walk, I a surgery ten days after of a wore it during five years, my mom cesarean; she has to be in bed for a had to visit the doctor and take me, long time due to she carried heavy so my grandmother Eugenia should things before which complicated her go and carry my brother or me, we health. At that time I felt sadness in all went to the treatments. my heart because my mom loved more to my sister than me, I I was about eight years old when my remember I told my mom that I did sister Cindy was born; my parents not want to talk with her because already got married in church. I she had another baby girl […]. asked to my mom “Why didn’t they get married at once? My mom says I remember when I was 12 years they got married just by the registry old, my mom was so angry with my office because it was easy to break
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dad about something bad he did, so I said “mom” and I began to speak, then they said “shup up, all of this is your fault, if you were not born our lives would be different”. It was heartbreaking and marked me so much which made me a rebel person at that time.
I told my grandmother Agustina about it, I thought she would be my refuge but not, she did not help me, that was why I didn’t want to talk with her during some time; I remember when she was on her deathbed she wanted to see us, all of us were there in her room and everyone were close to her but I Source: Lesly Ixq’nil’s Photo Album, 2019. was not, all of them said goodbye to her and I was the last one, she said It was a time to liberate me, she said to me “I appreciate you so much, I “I forgive you”, but I said that the one would have liked sharing with you who has to apologize was me and not everything I know, what I couldn’t her because in my follies I did not talk did with my sons but the time is to her, I didn’t want to see her. I didn’t over, you will have to discover it and know how to value her, she had a lot change it, I’m so proud of you of things to give and teach me and I wherever you go […], could you hug didn’t want because at that time of my life I did not know my identity, I didn’t me?”, I said no, and then I left her knew who I was, I was not able to room but I came back and hugged identify myself as now I do, and I her and said “I love you too”. think all of this was a process that if she should had been with me
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala everything would have been easier, I You indigenous? I said, “No, I don’t”; think I did not value her and I now then, why do you dress like that?I have to face my life alone. said, “Because it’s cute and expensive”, it was my way of thinking, During two years my mom didn’t and because all the times they exist for me, my dad supported her offended me and my clothing […] I did on what she said before. It began not understand that it was racism. I when I was 12 years old and also discriminated myself; I didn’t finished when I was 15 years; my have identity, because when they mom told me “we are going to said, why she dresses like that? I said: th celebrate your 15 birthday”, I didn’t “I don’t know why my parents wanted want it but my aunt convinced me, it, but when I get a job and have so well, the birthday party money I will change and I’m not be the preparations made us to see sense same anymore, but no now”, it and be together again. All this happened to me when I was in suffering was with my mom which secondary school, because in made us to strengthen our elementary school I wore a skirt as relationship and now we trust each uniform, it was cheap, but my parents other, instead of my dad he was said, why don’t you wear corte?, I detached like “well, it is not my said, “no, I prefer to wear the skirt” problem, I’m not going to solve it”, […]. I studied at San Juan we never asked for forgiveness to Sacatepéquez center, except during him, but although we still talk, the elementary school, it was located confidence was broken with him… behind the church. After a long time we went to In elementary school wearing the counseling together but it was so uniform was obligated, there were difficult after a long time we forgive Mayan girls like me and their each other, we were able to parents said, “you have to wear a overcome it. skirt, blouse, sweater, knee socks
I felt ashamed about who I was and shoes, that is you uniform”, It was rarely the family who said “my Then came a time when I felt daughter is not going to wear a skirt” ashamed to say Maya, almost all the then they obligated their daughters people don’t say Maya but to wear their Mayan clothing, and indigenous, people asked me, are everyone wore colorful clothes
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 because of their parents. There was a teacher who said “you are not wearing the uniform, so you’re not allowed to enter in mi class” and my classmate said, “my mom said I’m not going to wear a skirt, because it shows my legs and I don’t have to do that” and the teacher said, “so well, tell you mom to come and talk with me, if not, don’t get in”. From elementary school wearing the uniform was a rule, so since there so many girls ceased to wear their Mayan clothing. Elementary school was only for girls, some of them wore their Mayan clothing but others who have it, didn’t want to wear it. Fuente: Álbum fotográfico de Lesly Ixq’nil, 2019. We were almost nine years old with their Mayan clothes. The first three my friends, we were studying in third months of secondary school you grade, we loved to go to a friend’s have to wear particular clothes, but house, she was half-breed and had the first day of class I wore my a lot of toys, a beautiful yard, and Mayan clothing, I fell down and I got even though she was known as my clothes dirty, and I wanted to cry, wealthy girl, she didn’t demonstrate because instead my classmates it, she was humble and loved play helped me they laughed at me and with us, she said “hey, look that said “she’s a fool, she wanted to cry, trouser does nott fit me anymore, so she wanted her mommy” I felt so I’m going to give it to you” […] she ashamed, so they next day I gave us a trouser, a sweater, a dressed with skirt, blouse, knee blouse, and her parents said “if you socks and sweater, it was cold […], want to give it then do it, we are when we had some activities I asked going to buy you more”, and it also myself “Do I dress with corte or instilled some mates to wear trousers, what should I do? So then trousers and their occasionally wear I asked my friends, how are you
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala going to dress? some of them said give importance to what they tell me? they will dress with corte but others Why Do I let it affect me? In said trousers, so we voted for an secondary school there is option and the winner will be our psychologist, and I said to her: “I outfit the next day” but over time I really appreciate to talk with you; understood that Mayan clothing was please don’t give me counseling my identity. because it scares me”, but therapy influenced me to feeling good with I decided to wear my Mayan clothing myself. in eighth grade; one teacher said “I loved Mayan clothes, look at my I wanted to study the education for bag, it is made of an old corte home career to become a teacher, my someone gave me, how I would like parents told me it was okay, they were to wear such beautiful clothing, that going to support me, we looked for them were mine, but it’s belong to schools where to study at the city, someone else I just took it borrowed they were not convinced because they it as mine”, she always said her did not want I travel every day, then reflections and said “if you have they accepted; I had a problem with one, wear it, do not be ashamed, I’m my study documents in secondary here to admire you” […], so I said “ school, and when I went to the I’m going to wear my blouse Institute at the city they told me that because my teacher is going to there were not more places […] so my flattered me”, she influenced me. I mom told me “You should study even have all this culture and I am rejecting if it is for an elementary teacher”, I it, so I accepted it “I am Maya” and said no, because I do not like spent that made me change. On Fridays we time with children, but she said “if you could dress with particular clothes but don’t study now, then your dad is not we had to pay Q1.00, then I said “I’m going to help you the next year”, so I going to spent my money because I said “okay, I’m going to do the want to dress my clothing”, some admission test if I approve it I will classmates said to me “you look ugly”, study there” […]. Then I went for the and I think “they called me ugly but results and the teacher told me “I did the teacher called me ‘pretty’ and said not like your drawings but I loved your what matters is what you feel”. story, you’re not going to be a handicrafts teacher but you’re going to During ninth grade I said “Why do I use your imagination to teach, and it
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 is so good, congratulations, here is She tell me “we are going to the registration form”. Now as a strengthen our students teaching them teacher I’m with my children the language not all the time because (students), they came at 8:30 am they will not understand us but we are and leave at 11:00 am, that time is going to start with some words”, she so special with my students. I also says “if you want to dress with Mayan clothing and give the sport worked in a Catholic School class wearing it, it is okay” she gives belonging to nuns. I always wore my me the freedom of choice and she Mayan clothing, today we have the also tell me “someday you are going sport class and I say to my students to lend me your Mayan clothing and that no matter how you are dress, I’m going to dress like that”. At school you can do everything. Students do those girls who wear corte and it fell not have some uniform just an off, the nuns said “show me how you school apron and mine identified me dress it” and I show them using mine as a teacher, at work they told us how they have to do it. Now we’re “you can choose the design or color happy because the school changed of you want, or wear it just in white principal, and they do not restrict us. color, do what you want” so I told my When my mom dressed me, she friend to draw a little girl and a boy said “let’s go to dress you, raise wearing Mayan clothing on my your hands, you have to take the top school apron, my students love it. of corte and then turn it to […] it is One of the nuns of the school is size up like this, it doesn’t have lines from San Pedro Sacatepéquez, her here, so you have to calculate it”, or mom speak Kaqchikel and she did she put it on the bed or floor and not instill her sons this language, said “put it here, from this tile to that she said to them “don’t speak it one then you fold it in that tile”, she because someone if going to taught me […] I laid down on the discriminate you”, she the nun know floor and rolled it in my body, it took some words and said “I can’t wear me almost 30 minutes to put on my my clothes which identified me, corte […], it was all a learning, then I when I made my vows as a nun I learned, I was seven or six years old. My grandmother also said to me committed myself to dress like that”, “you’re going to learn how to wear it, her mom nor wear her Mayan you have to put it here and tighten clothing, she wears dress, and she it”, it was so difficult for me, but now also speaks Kaqchikel. it took me less than five minutes. 116
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“You are going to graduate and then you have to decide what to do with your life”
My parents were so proud of me when I graduated from high school. All my mom’s nieces already have sons, they are little older than me, one is 22 years old and she has two kids, it is the same with the oldest one who has two or three sons, they had them when they were in a young age. So my uncles told my parents that my study was a waste of time, because their daughters went to school and after a time they got pregnant, and my parents just were going to waste time and money […]. So I told my mom that it Source: Lesly Ixq’nil’ Photo Album 2019. will not happen to me, that I knew what I wanted, so they told me From my mom’s family no one of the women continued study neither men they’re going to support me and not did, because they said “well, you are disappointed them. I remember so older and already studied high well when I said my mom I was school, now look for a job and have going to graduate, she was so a family”, so from my mom’s family excited. When graduation’s party I’m the first granddaughter who is was held at my house, my parents studying at university, also from my told me “we are so proud you did not dad’s family. It is a pleasure for me disappoint us” I didn’t knew they to say ‘I’m studying at university’, were going to give me a graduation and is too sad that my uncles, my ring, my dad took it out and gave it mom’s siblings say it is a waste of to my mom then she put it in my time, or that a woman study is not finger […], since there I decided to useful, and is better to learn how to study at university. made tortillas and work in a tortillas
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 stand, or to sell something in the because “that will open up new market, just because “I’m older, and doors for you, study at the university I’m studying, I have to look for a will give you the opportunity for husband, because their daughter at being a teacher in secondary or high my age already had children […]”. I schools, it is going to help you”, she have a totally different perspective, said. and the last thing I want at this stage My boyfriend, at that time, he was of my life is to have children, what I studying at the Faculty of Agronomy, really want is continuing my studies he told me “if you’re at the university and strengthen my knowledges […] I’m going to help you”, he through the university. helped me a lot and said to me “you My uncles and aunts from my dad’s have to do that, you have to take family said they are so happy, they this exam, o you have to do this expect I continue with my studies, […]”, but then I was discourage that it is a complicated process; because I had a lot of work to do, I and as my uncle who studied just felt I had a lot of pressure because until high school said ‘if you have of my high school midterms. I the chance, don not miss it’ graduated in 2016, in 2007 I told my because he would have liked boyfriend “this year I’m going to do continuing his studies at the the process to study in the university. University”, and he told me: “let’s go to generate the slip and to pay it When I graduated from high school, […]”. I come to home that night and I well, when I was studying the last told my parents “I’m going to study year, I wanted to study other career at San Carlos”, they thought it was a in high school because my dream joke, and I told them it wasn’t, “see was being a teacher for education it, I already paid”. for home, my mom told me ‘no, look for other options’. A high school I was thinking, what I’m going to teacher told me to study an study?, so I started to see and read Associate degree in Education at the most common careers, the university and then I would take Psychology, Engineering, some cooking, sewing, handcraft Agronomy, all of that […], I said “no, courses, etc., but what really matter there is nothing here for me”, until was to study at the university one day my dad’s cousin who was
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala studying at Humanities Faculty told high school […]. My brother is me “You should go to Humanities studying an associate degree in Faculty, there are good associate education specialized in Physics and degrees”, so I started looking for Mathematics, I’m so proud of him and careers, I found an option where me because we are more family said Bilingual Education, then I members who study in the University. investigated and said “I already I have two cousins who are studying know what to study”. their first year of high school, so I During the registration process to be told them “well, when you finish it accepted in the University, I went on then you have to study at the my own to take the admission exams university and I will help you and but sometimes my dad drove me informed you about registration there on his motorcycle, occasionally process, admission texts […] you he waited for me or sometimes I can also study in the University […]”. came home on my own, I said “well, My family always knew about now I know the road to university, I’m university but they never talked going to go there alone”. My mom about continuing study there after has never been in the university, I finish high school, they just said have asked her many times to visit it “well, after you finish high school, but she always gave me an excuse you have to decide what to do with and we never had a chance to do it. your life”. One day I went with my The results for admission exams friend to an activity held in the city, were given on my birthday day. I got so we decided to go and know the successful tests and I was so happy university, the university students because I did it in the first chance. were on vacations, they were not My brother finished high school last studying there; we met a great world year and now he had planned to and I told my friend, “Well, someday waste a year without study but I told we will study here”, and she said him that I was going to help him with “yes, you will be here but as a street money, and things he would need to vendor”, she was joking. And well I’ll keep his studies, and he does not be here to study and not to sell, but waste a year as I did. My parents had she told me “no, I feel that university already talked about helping us until is not for me”, she’s not studying because she’s the oldest and she
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 has to work with her parents and help professor said, are you a student in her siblings. this course? He just stared at me, and I said, yes, then he said “come in”; but “Because of my Mayan clothing it was so disgusting that I said “no, it he thought I was going to ask for will not make me give up, or I do not money” want to study here”, but it was like “I will continue my studies and show I attended to university for free him I’m studying at the university courses on Saturdays during the year; and I will go so far. I did not start the university yet. The course was about “knowing my self- In the common area of the Associate esteem”, when I came here at the first degree in Intercultural Bilingual time was unpleasant because the Education -EBI-, there was a teacher thought I was asking money professor who said “because of the and he said “excuse me, I’m not going EBI’s students came late, they have to let you in and ask for money”, and I to sit at back”, it was not true, it was felt unwelcome, it was depressing for because we were waiting outside to me just because my Mayan clothing enter his class until previous class he thought that, but I was there to finished; so it was like “okay, guys of take the course. Then I said “the next economic accounting course (the day I’m going to dress trouser” and I other associate degree), my guys did it, I came there and the difference come in please”, most of them wore was “come in please, sit down”, he trousers, just a few wore Mayan didn’t say it before, so I decided wear clothing, so it was “EBI’s students at trouser. My mom told me, “Why are back I think there is room where to you dressed like that? Do not do that, stand up” but my classmates said put on your Mayan clothing”. Then I “no, excuse me”, “no, I’m going to sit left my house wearing my Mayan up front” “there is a place, so I’m clothing and when I came to university going to sit here”, “no, stay here we I put in my trousers, to avoid suffering. have to be strong, do not sit at And then I said, “Why I’m doing this? back”, but others said “no, let’s go at Why I’m changing myself? So next back because they were already day I dressed with my traditional here”, then I said, “well, Should I clothing and if he ask me if I want to stay here or not? […]. Those have sell something I’m going to say, yes been experiences which have […], I remember I came there and the helped me strengthen, even the
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contact with EBI’s classmates, wore my Mayan clothing, the seeing how they are doing their Sanjuanero, my village’s costume, transformation process has helped and I said “well, I’m going to represent me with my own process. my people, so people would notice I’m from there and that I’m here in the A classmate has a bad experience university”. when she went to the restroom to make up; one girl looked at her and I remember I left my house at 4:40 said “look at this indigenous, she is am, when I came at the university making up”, my classmate turned to there was a friend who was from San her and said “hey, respect me Raymundo, she was going to study because I’m not doing anything Chemical Biology, it was so nice when against you so you are insulting me I saw her, and I said “I’m so happy that way”. Some students think that she is here” that day was so nice. We Mayan people do not have the right all who study Intercultural Bilingual to look beautiful. They had made us Education -EBI- stay together, I was feel inferior but it was something we surprised to see a lot of girls wearing do not care anymore, well, in my their Mayan clothing, there were also case it does not affect me that they bachelors, teachers and professors talk about me, but racism and who wear their clothing, I felt like in discrimination is always there. home “because we dressed our Mayan clothing” “The University strengthened My courses finished at 3:00 pm, they my identity” told us about a gratitude ceremony, I I thought university was just for half- have never been in one, and such breed or ladino people and that is not feeling like “well, should I be here, or true, anyone who feel able to study should I leave, what should I do?” so I there can do it, it was I liked the most said “I’m going to stay”, I thought I that university if for everyone. was linked and connected with the sacred fire. So I said “I have so much For the first university day, during all to learn, so much to know about it”. the week I was thinking about “how I’m going to dress me?” I remember I
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Each one of the professors with way, even my friends have told me everything they do or say has “I really like your way of thinking helped me to develop my identity, now”, and I said, “well, is that all?”, I and each one of them fills an empty mean “that my identity is more than space inside me with their that”, each of you just see a part of teachings. Who has influenced me it, and that part is what I’m deeply in the university is Alicia improving, and that part too […], because of her character and way of then everyone can see a different dressing […]. I took a course part which is forming my identity. “Education and Popular Communication” with her. I felt so My parents said that each of us is a proud to study in the University, and different world, and everyone knows said “hey, I’m so proud wherever I what to do with their life, they do not go”, to go to work and said that I’m say it as identity, but they say so proud, some mothers ask to me, “everyone is free to do whatever Miss, why are you always dress like they want with their lives and go this? I say “because it is my identity wherever their destination take and I’m so proud of that”, so they them”, so it has helped me with my say “that is so good, someday my Mayan clothing “this is my costume daughter would say that”. and you have to choose if you take it or not”. I thought that my identity would have been interrupted and I would It is amazing to me that non-Mayan needed it, it is like a puzzle, I see it people are studying Intercultural that way, I think that each process, Bilingual Education, a classmate told each thing give me a piece to form that her family questioned her about, my puzzle, which is my life my why she wanted to be involved with identity, so then, I think I’m on the indigenous people?, and she felt so middle of the puzzle and I still need offended even though when she was the other half. I’m still in the process not Maya, she even discussed with of complete my identity puzzle. her family, then they told her it was a My mom said she has noticed little joke, but she told them not to do that changes on me, but feel those have kind of jokes because there are been great and immense changes, people who felt offended, she being but everyone can see it in a different no Maya was
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala offended with the comments of her looking for her brothers and sisters family. speak kaqchikel too.
I think that non-Mayan people have In the Lesly’s case, her concern is taken our identity as theirs, as a about her brother and sisters will classmate said that she was sad continue to study, work for Lesly has because she did not feel that half- been essential and achieves to breed and ladino culture were her study in the University. Her family identity, so she wanted to investigate does not prioritize the university through EBI, her Mayan roots. They studies, but work does. Her parents say “I feel that I not have culture, and I neither instilled them the Kaqchikel do not belong from any place”, for that language, they do not speak it; Lesly reason they are looking and asking to is trying to learn it with her know who they are. classmates.
Short Review of Carolina and The Mayan clothing is essential for both Carolina and Lesly, which Lesly’s life stories generated doubt and interest about Even though Carolina and Lesly had their identity, however, for Carolina, different stories and family context, the Mayan clothing was a direct they share several similarities. Being bound which helped to strengthen the oldest daughter in the family has her identity as Maya. She learned it involved assuming responsibilities, from her dad, because for her it was not because they are forced by their necessary to learn and do parents but because they see something as she grew up, her mother is a weaver, but who taught indispensable their support and her to weave was her aunt, her participation. In Carolinas’ case, she mom’s sister. Her great is concerned because her siblings grandmother was who taught her identify themselves with their native aunt to weave. roots, and learn and value what their parents had transmitted to them. For Carolina the weave was the The Kaqchikel was not their mother basis to attach her history and self- language, but she learned it in the identity as Mayan woman. In the school by her dad, likewise she is Lesly’s case weave was for her a
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 search of meaning and ones who continued their studies, comprehension about who she was, they do not want to be like them, be but the meaning and strengthening a mother at an early age and without of her identity was built through a job related to what they studied. several experiences of racism and Carolina and Lesly feel the familiar discrimination she suffered and social pressure due to the especially in educational places. transgression and breaking of social stereotypes. In both cases grandmothers has been the essential part about At the university both have suffered learning their history and life discrimination and racism from comprehension. professors and students, however it did not limit them to continue Both –Carolina and Lesly- live in their studying, not to stop wearing their villages; they are from a large family Mayan clothing. Although they because is not just mom, dad and questioned themselves these children, but also uncles, aunts, marked differences in the University. cousins, grandmothers and In Carolina’s case, she was grandfathers. They have received the interested about the student support of their families but also they experiences and ways of life from are models for their families, some half-breed or ladino especially for her cousins, because classmates, but she admits these they are the first ones who study at life experiences generated a the USAC as women, daughters, disorder in her familiar and granddaughters and nieces. academic life. As the oldest daughters and These are some of the student’s life granddaughter in the Carolina’s experiences which several young case has involved being ideal people live in the University, however, enough and responsible not to they are not always strengthen their disappoint their parents confidence. identities, these experiences make In the Lesly’s case, she is not the them rethink not only their life oldest granddaughter but she is the condition but their own reality. oldest sister which requires being responsible enough with her studies. The patron saint festivities, fairs of Both of them emphasized that of all their villages are part of their Mayan their cousins, they were the only identity. These are time to share
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala with family staying together and arbitrariness, as long as its objective share. For Carolina, fairs remember true of cultural and dominant her the moments shared with her arbitrariness is unknown .(p. 39) grandparents especially her Knowing the history of peoples childhood. For Lesly, fairs are part of makes us aware not only of their her family customs but also roots but also to know how to place friendships. historically and in an appropriate Lesly’s family life story has way their fights and social causes. It generated criticism and reflection is exactly what the University has regarding to have a family at an generated especially in some early age. It is not between her academic units regarding to priorities, otherwise Carolina, who recognition and respect of diversity consider the importance of a family of Mayan peoples in the country and it corresponds according to each thereby the university. family condition. The courtship experience has been different on Concluding Thoughts and each other, but the freedom and Recommendations independence for them is the main Mayan identity is defined according thing, and example of this is to have to the personal, familiar, collective decided to continue studying even and community life’s track record of with the limits and conditions they the Mayan young people. Identity is had such as their courtship, family, a need to maintain the memory and etc. roots of grandparents (who were the pre- and post-colonial generations) The need to deconstruct the Maya in daily life, for that reason it is and non-Maya thinking is essential difficult to reduce it into one or more to the recognition and respect of the objectives and/or subjective “other people” in all social elements. There is an inherent need environments. Pierre Bourdieu in young Mayan people to speak (2002) emphasizes that: and express not only their feelings In a determined social education, but also their actions, proposals, legitimate culture, it means, culture projects, etc., about personal and endowed of dominant legitimacy, is collective life. nothing more than dominant cultural
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Mayan Language is one of the Violence is going through the majority elements of Mayan identity; it is the of young people in Guatemala, one that has linked contemporary especially Mayan people, who besides Mayan populations with their roots. of several social exclusions they Language has contributed and suffered; they had also suffered maintains the transmission of racism from the diverse assimilated original knowledges to the and standardized violence in society contemporary generations, and even in some Mayan families. especially through oral heritage. In this country the violence against Language has been one of the Mayan identity has been historical, the resistance, rebellion and Internal Armed Conflict was the permanence pillar or the original nearest reference of violence and knowledges in Guatemala, racism and it has had several especially because most Mayan implications in contemporary native people do not write it but they just youth, however, there have been speak it. questions and especially recognitions about their origin to replace and bring Preserving the language was a into discussion and into the practice demonstration of resistance of the cultural and political visibility of grandparents during colonial Mayan identity. process and which remain (contemporaneously) after diverse Mayan clothing is not only an policies of genocide, assimilation, element of identity, but it places and “becoming ladino”, “Hispanicization”, reads out Mayan identity through etc., which are implemented and weaves, colors, embroideries, promoted by Guatemalan State. figures, etc. It also shows native This reality has been experienced peoples history as well as the by most of Mayan families in expressions of Mayan women at Guatemala, the student’s thoughts present. The use of Mayan clothing and their contributions on it make is instilled since childhood and in visible the significance of diverse some cases throughout policies of assimilation and adolescence and adulthood. But it is “inclusion” have had without belong probably that the use of Mayan to Maya, Garífuna and Xinca native clothing remain in Mayan women (in peoples in the country. this case, students)
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When it is instilled since childhood, generated mechanism of resistance but during the life path the use of and permanence into classrooms Mayan clothing could change due to such as sorority among Mayan the diverse experiences Mayan women, recognition and women suffered, for example accompaniment, work and study racism, discriminations, family groups between them. But not in all breakdown, violence, harassment, academic units Mayan woman can etc. find some allies, particularly in the Health Sciences and Technical Area Mayan clothing is part of the where there are a minimal number collective-community, familiar and of Mayan students for that reason individual identity, but in front of some students give up, and other non-Mayan population it could be an change their career and/or of faculty; indicator of underdevelopment, and the few one who decided to incapacity, ignorance, poverty, continue are forced to hide their unhappiness, lack of beauty and identity, other denied it or try to intelligence, among others and it is forget it, but also there are other made visible in classrooms who maintain their identity and especially groups of work. strengthen it and made visible it with Exclusions is embodied toward proud, reason and impulse in the Mayan women when works, University. expositions, researches are done in their classrooms groups; and to At the academic units of Health continue studying their career they Sciences and Technical Areas, the must to show their academic skills no use of Mayan clothing is due to and intelligence to be included into safety rules of the laboratory, work groups. These Mayan skills fieldwork, etc., done by students; it and intelligence are cause of doubt means there is a regulation by and questioning also from some student safety. However, students professors especially when students emphasize that when professors wore their Mayan clothing. notice they are Mayans, they doubt
Before these exclusions experienced by Mayan women, they have
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 about their capabilities in managing Mayan women, as well as the of laboratory tools, dangerous and historical colonial and contemporary volatile substances, etc. dispossession also experienced by them. For instance, the fear and In the case of the academic units of insecurity to manifest and make the Humanistic Social Area, evidence Mayan identity is students who decide to stop wearing highlighted, about what Internal their Mayan clothing is due to Armed Conflict caused to Mayan racism, discrimination, harassment populations and is still evidenced in and several violence they these younger generations. experienced in classrooms, into the faculty, in the University and in Mayan women are more harassed buses. It should be emphasized that than half-breed or ladino women in both Mayan women of the the University, especially by USAC Humanistic Social Area as well as workers. Vulnerability to which they the student from Health and are subjected is due to the use of Technical Area are victims of their Mayan clothing. Some students racism, discrimination, harassment, have changed their Mayan clothing etc., by students, professors and by trousers or dresses and the university workers. difference is evidenced, not only by social treatment but also in access Stopping using Mayan clothing for to certain public services, as most Mayan student, especially education; and they are conscious those who wear it since their that is does not give them a childhood, it involves discomfort and guarantee for their inclusion and insecurity because they can not feel total acceptance in student groups, other clothes as part of them, and for instance. their indigenous roots and memory are endangered. There is also Being rejected and excluded by non- cause of discomfort and insecurity Mayan students, in some cases for some student to wear their Mayan women stop wearing their Mayan clothing in the University or traditional clothing as an obligatory mostly in non-indigenous places. alternative, but they notice that is not These experiences happen because like this because clothing is just part students body has impregnate all of their identity, because their history, the multiple violence suffered by
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Reality and Identity of Mayan women at San Carlos University of Guatemala their roots, people, and family remain their language as a supporter, and intact. that identity is not defined from one subjective and/or objective element The admission to the University has but there are a plurality and multiplicity reaffirmed, questioned, doubted, ways to attach and manifest identity denied, suppressed etc., the Mayan which are no necessary contradicted student’s identity. Nevertheless, it is but complemented, reinforced and essential to highlight that the boosted. University has also generated them, consciousness, has given them the Racism and discrimination are not opportunity to talk about themselves strangers to socio-academic and their origins deconstructing relationships between professors; them to strengthen their Mayan Mayan students emphasize they identity. Professors have been part have evidenced racism and of this process constructed by discrimination by non-Mayan Mayan women student, especially professors against Mayan starting with academic, professional professors especially to Mayan and teaching Mayan and non-Mayan women. contributions, which have been Historically the University has contextualized with ethnic, cultural assumed responsibility to solve and genre relevance the needs and several demands and social struggles. demands of students and general However, talking about indigenous population. people (nationally majority population) The friendship life cycle that Mayan it even not has deepen or contributed students coming to have or form, to such populations can incorporate keep them emotionally and their needs, struggles and demands physically especially when they are into socio-academic activities excluded. promoted, executed, proposed and projected by the only public University, Most of students who no longer or sometimes wear their Mayan The University as diversity itself has clothing highlight with impetus the had projects and work schedules Mayan language as an essential which have contributed in a minimal element of Mayan identity. Which way, to the deconstruction of an mean those who wear they academic and professional training traditional clothing also stand out
129 Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 that do not longer responds to necessary do this conversations not students and general society only with Mayan women, but also half- demands and needs. breed and/or ladino, Garífunas and Xíncas women and men, because in The university careers, associate this ways stereotypes and thoughts degrees or bachelors relevant to are deconstructed. Critical indigenous people and of gender, coexistence between diverse Maya, strengthen identities, in this case, Garífuna, Xínca, and half-breed and Mayan identity in the university, but ladino populations is an urgent is has been implemented only in necessity, especially in the only public some areas, for example at university in Guatemala. Humanistic Social Area (in a minimal range) and not so much or To ensure that the University almost nothing at Health Sciences responds to several realities and and Technological Area. social demands it is essential to generates contributions not only An associate or a bachelor degree in academic but also real and critical Intercultural Bilingual Education of the analysis about diverse current Training College of Secondary Education Teachers - EFPEM – is a problems of the country for the benefit contribution and effort made at of the population. It is important to USAC particularly regarding to generate the social critic analysis and native people demands, especially training for professors, administrative from students, but such has been personnel and other workers such as reduced only in this area, it is cleaning and service staff, etc., placed necessary that this cultural, and contextualized from native people academic, social, ghistorical, etc., approach, of genre, sexual diversity, relevance will be implemented at rurality, urbanity, among others. central campus and nationally. Furthermore, it must be provided with all financial resources, means and Regarding about identity should not funds enough to implement projects, be a form of discomfort, however in internal and international work Guatemalan society talking about schedules, by what it is urgent to Mayan identity is cause of disdain, request the 5% budget that dispossession, fear, shame, and constitutionally corresponds to USAC even offence. For that reason it is
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References Casaús, M. & Hurtado, A. (2006). Diag- Arfuch, L. (2002). El espacio biográfico. nóstico del racismo en Guatemala: Dilemas de la subjetividad con- investigación interdisciplinaria y par- temporánea. Chapter. 6: El ticipativa para una política integral espacio biográfico en las ciencias por la convivencia y la eliminación sociales (pp.177-202). del racismo. Volumen III. Prácticas AVANCSO. (2017). “La violencia de an- discriminatorias y construcción co- tes está adelante…”, Mujeres indí- lectiva de conceptos. Guatemala: genas: su relación con la violencia Publishing House: Serviprensa, dy “las justicias”. Investigation S.A. Book No. 29. Guatemala: AVANCSO. Casaús, M. (2019). Racismo, genocidio y memoria. Guatemala: F&G Editores. Bourdieu, P. & Passeron, J. (2001). La reproducción: elementos para una Chirix, E (2008). Una aproximación socio- Teoría del Sistema de Enseñanza. lógica a la sexualidad kaqchikel de Madrid, Spain: Popular. hoy. Guatemala: FLACSO.
Bourdieu, P. & Passeron, J. (2008). Los he- Chirix, E. (2012). Dos generaciones de rederos: los estudiantes y la cultura. mujeres mayas: disciplinas corpora- México: XXI Century. les en el internado Instituto Indígena Nuestra Señora del Socorro. Jalisco: Bourdieu, P. & Wacquant, L. (2008). Una CIESAS. invitación a la Sociología reflexiva. Buenos Aires: XXI Century. Cojtí, D. (1991). La configuración del pen- samiento político del Pueblo Maya. Bourdieu, P. (2008). Homo academicus. Guatemala: Association of Mayan Buenos Aires: XXI Century. Writers of Guatemala. Casaús, M. (1998). La metamorfosis del Cojtí, D. (1994). La universidad contra los racismo en Guatemala. Guatemala: mayas, en: Breton, A. & Arnauld, J. Publishing House: Cholsamaj. (1994). Los mayas: la pasión por los antepasados, el deseo de perdurar. México: Publishing House Grijalbo.
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Cojtí, D. (1997). Ri maya´ moloj pa iximu- registered by academic unit and lew. El movimiento maya (en Guate- career, according to entrance mala). Guatemala: Cholsamaj. category, academic year 2019. Retrieved from: https://re- Cojtí, D. (2018). Problemas actuales de la gistro.usac.edu.gt/formularios_rye/ identidad Nacional Guatemalteca. INSCRITOS2019.pdf Retrieved from: https://nanopdf. com/download/problemas-actua- Organizational Development Department. les-academico_pdf# (2018). General Organizational Table of USAC. Guatemala: USAC. Derrida, J. (1989). La escritura y la diferen- Retrieved from: http://ddo.usac.edu.gt/ cia. Barcelona: Publishing House wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Orga- Anthropos. nigrama-General-USAC-Julio-2019. Dewer-Plana, M. (2006). La verdad bajo la jpg tierra Guatemala, el genocidio silen- Esquit, E. (2014). Debate entre ser indio, ciado. Spain: Art Blume, S.L. maya e indígena en Guatemala. En Directorate General of Administration, Interculturalidad y Multiculturalismo. Registration and Statistic Office - Realidades e Ilusiones. Maggazine USAC. (2018). Avance estadístico No. No. 24, año 19, December 2013. 02-2018. Registered students by Guate- mala: IDEI. academic unit according to ethnic Falla, R. (2010). Alicia: Explorando la self-affiliation. Academic Year, 2010- identidad de una joven maya Ixcán, 2017. Retrieved from: Guatemala. Guatemala: University https://registro.usac.edu.gt/formula Publishing House. rios_rye/AvanceEstad02_2018.pdf Foucault, M. (1999). Estrategias de poder. Directorate General of Administration, De- Barcelona, Spain: Publishing House Registration and Statistic Office - Paidós. USAC. (2018). Total of registered students by academic unit and career, Guzmán-Böckler, C. & Herbert, J. L. (1970). according to entrance and sex Guatemala: una interpretación histó- category, academic year 2018. rico-social. México: XXI Century. Retrieved from: Harvey, D. (2007). Breve historia del neoli- https://registro.usac.edu.gt/formulario beralismo. Madrid: Akal s_rye/POficiaINSCRITO2018.pdf Harvey, D. (2005). El nuevo imperialismo: Directorate General of Administration, acumulación por desposesión. Bue- Registration and Statistic Office- nos Aires: CLACSO. USAC. (2019). Total of students Hurtado, A. (2006). Estilos de prejui- cio en la población universitaria
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guatemalteca: análisis comparado en Laclau, E. (2005). Populismo: ¿qué hay en cuatro universidades. En Diag- el nombre? En Arfuch, L. (2005). nóstico del racismo en Guatemala: Pensar este tiempo: espacios, afec- investigación interdisciplinaria y par- tos, pertenencias. Buenos Aires: ticipativa para una política integral Paidós. por la convivencia y la eliminación del Laclau, E. (2015). La razón populis- ta. racismo. Volumen III. Prácticas Madrid: Fondo de Cultura Económica. discriminatorias y construcción co- lectiva de conceptos. Guatemala: Segato, R. (2010). Género y Colonialidad: Serviprensa, S.A. en busca de claves de lectura y de
Hurtado, A. (2007). Las Mayas de Kaqla: la un vocabulario estratégico descolo- renegociación de la identidad maya nial. En Bidaseca, K. (2010). Femi- en Guatemala. Guatemala: Institu- to nismos y Poscolonialidad: desco- de Lingüística y Educación de la lonizando el feminismo desde y en University Rafael Landívar. América Latina (pp. 17-47). Buenos Aires: Publishing House Godot. Koselleck, R. (1993). Historia conceptual e historia social. En Futuro Pasado. Para Segato, R. et. al. (2010). Raza y racismo. En una semántica de los tiempos Revista Latinoamericana de Cien- cias históricos (p. 105-126). Barcelona: Sociales “Crítica y Emancipa- ción” Paidós. (pp. 11-124). Buenos Aires: CLACSO.
Laclau, E. (1993). Discurso. Revista Topos y Spivak, G. (2003). ¿Puede hablar el sub- Tropos (1). alterno? En Revista Colombiana de Antropología (pp. 297-364). Bogotá, Laclau, E. (1996). Emancipación y diferen- Colombia: Colombian Institute of cia. Buenos Aires: Ariel. Anthropology and History. Laclau, E. & Mouffe, C. (1999). Nuevas Tzul, G. (2016). Sistemas de Gobierno Co- reflexiones sobre la revolución en munal Indígena: Mujeres y tramas de nuestro tiempo. Buenos Aires: Nue- parentesco en Chuimeq’ena’, So- va Visión. ciedad Comunitaria de Estudios Es- Laclau, E. & Mouffe, C. (2004). Hegemo- nía tratégicos y Centro de Investigación y y estrategia socialista: hacia una Pluralismo Jurídico Tz’ikin. Guate- radialización de la democracia. Buenos mala, Publishing House Maya Wuj. Aires: Fondo de Cultura Económica.
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Vasilachis, I (2006). La investigación cua- USAC”. Guatemala: (A. E. litativa. Estrategias de investigación Sociológicos-IIPS). cualitativa. Barcelona: Gedisa. Interviewed Students Discussion Groups 1. Carolina Vásquez, maya k’aqchikel, Mayan women students of Political student at the Agronomy and Sciences School, USAC. (28/02 & Engineering Faculty, USAC. 06/03 de 2019). Discussion Group 2. Lesly Ixq’anil, maya k’aqchikel, “Discuss and Express our feelings student at the Training College of as Mayan women students at the Secondary Education Teachers ECP”. Guatemala: (A. E. USAC. Sociológicos-IIPS). 3. Madeline Simón, maya k´qchikel, Mayan women students at the Health and student at the Pharmacy Faculty, Technical Area, USAC. (19 & 22/03 USAC. de 2019). Discussion Groups “Discuss and Express our feelings 4. Florencia López, maya k’aqchikel, as Mayan women students at the student at the Political Science USAC”. Guatemala: (A. E. School, USAC. Sociológicos-IIPS). 5. Elsa Ixcoy, maya k’aqchikel, student Mayan women students at the Humanistic at the Political Science School, and Social Area, USAC. (30/03 & USAC. 02/04 de 2019. Discussion Group 6. Ixmukané Cojtí, maya q’eqchí-kaq- “Discuss and express our feelings as chikel, student at the Pharmacy Mayan women at the USAC” Faculty, USAC. Guatemala: (A. E. Sociológicos- IIPS). Photographic References
Women students of USAC. (29/04 de Sociological Study Area —AES—. 2019). Discussion Group “Dialogue between women students at the Lesly Ixq’anil. Carolina Vásquez.
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Acronyms and Abbreviations (by its initials in Spanish)
AES Sociological Study Area
AEU Association of University Students
CC.SS Social Sciences
CEH Comisión de Esclarecimiento Histórico
CONALFA National Literacy Committee
EBI Intercultural Bilingual Education
ECP Political Science School
EFPEM Training College of Secondary Education Teachers
ECTAFIDE School of Science and Technology of Physical Activity and Sport IDEI Institute of Interethnic Studies
IIPS Institute of Political and Social Research
IUMUSAC University Institute for Women
ITEMS MayaTechnological Institute of Higher Education
ITUGS University Institute of Technology Guatemala South
ONG’s Non-governmental Organizations
ONU United Nations
PAC Civilian Self-Defense Patrols
USAC San Carlos University of Guatemala
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136 d From outrage to spectacle: la Plaza 2015
Politics and Society –Investigation Reports– 2019 Researches/Investigaciones ISSN: 2518-4733
From outrage to spectacle: la plaza 2015
IIPS –Politics Study Areas–
“–(…) the real is produced from minuature cells, matrices, memory and a model of comissions – and from there it can be produced indefinitly. It has not rational identity by not being tested in any ideal or negative process. It is not more than something operative not even real since nothing imaginary involves it. It is hyper-real, the product of a radiant sinthesis of combinatory models in a hyperspace withouth atmosphere”.
Jean Baudrillard. Cultura y simulacro, 1978.
Introduction
Due to the publishing of the article The objective provinding to society a “Political imaginary of the citizen response from the academy about protest of 2005 in Guatemala: from one of the recent and more significant the symbolic to the specific” (IIPS, political events for Guatemalan 2018), the Political Studies Area people, is hidden to such intellectual AEP iniciated an investigation in entrepreneurship, which, even in the order to explore about the socio- past years, it continues giving rise to historical events occurred in conjectures and interpretative Guatemala in 2015. Such hypothesis which examine its mytical nature, although its legitimacy too. investigation provides to the readers Such investigation practiced an a theoretical and referential essay interpretative proposal about "La which outlined a look about the Plaza” events, linked to the invention situation and social proceses of an outrage imaginary and citizen generated regarding to what the protests as referential point, evocation national and international media and representation of political fields in called “La Plaza in 2015” Guatemala. 137 Politics and Society Magazine – Research Reports – 2019
Intencionally, the traditional view of Even the opinions aimed to denounce civic culture studies was not continued, which privileged the the 2015 events as part of a quantitative variable and continental strategy, aimed to provoke investigates around the quantitative a popular dissapointment and a citizen measure of the citizen participation protest controlled through media into public interest matters, the manipulation, the use of social media government, the support to the and microblogging in political function. system and the situational studies, All of this with the purpose to redirect scenarios and political prospective, the attention of public opinion towards which have consolidated their specific objectives: generates citizen dominant tendencies at social consensuses against government of sciences such as in the influential the moment, facilitates a “change of journalistic narrative. Instead, the direction” and promotes a sense into exposition was supported in the the populations about that concept of political imaginaries; the phenomenon was a genuine and invention of the symbolic, political espontaneous movement, massive, representation and construction of but urban. It gives the posibility to myths, rituals, expectations, rethink the citizen protest, as memories and speeches were the imaginary and as hyper-real product, central focus, in the sense offer by Landi, talking about “cultural plot of in the sense proposed by Baudrillard, politics” (cited in Echegoyen, 2003, inasmuch as its symbolic construction p. 40). took place in social media its preferential place of origin, putting into AEP considered the need to effect a whole simulation strategy continue with the investigation about derived from a politic of counterfit truth the events related with citizens (post-truth) protests of 2015, valuing a serie of This investigation raised the need to hypothesis: since those which value the ideological products and positioned “la Plaza” as a disruptive citizens demands which were phenomenon, unifyier of wills compromised during 2015 with (supposition that still remain as part special focus on the analysis of the of a social imaginary established)
138 d From outrage to spectacle: la Plaza 2015
speech of outrage spokespersons, would aprreciate the positions social groups especially those called expressed by interviewers, to those “emerging” through the technique of who participated we appreciate their semiestructured interview. It also time and willingness to collaborate includes the opinion of recognized with this investigation. Likewise, the experts, prominent national journalist research team makes noticeable their and bloggers. Thus, the theoretical gratitude to scientist Samuel assumptions raised were confroted in Sánchez, student of Sociology Career a combination of hemerographic in our Alma Mater, who participated in technicques and semiestructured the transcription process of four interviews. On one side, the team work interviews. developed a timeline of the most relevant politics events between April Methodological Note and August 2015; with the purpose of portray the political process and most After the publicaton of the article important events whithin the “Political imaginary of citizen protests conjuncture level as well as within the of 2015 in Guatemala: from the wide political scene. On the other symbolic to the specific” (IIPS, 2018), hand, some groups who participated AEP planned a next work phase, into “la Plaza” events were contacted which was developed during the and they contributed with a academic year 01/2019. Its principal restrospective point of view about their objective was to investigate about participation, with the serenity of the ideological implications of political distance. nexus of 2015, beginning from the content of political and ideological test A total of 13 interviews were into the social protests of that year. In developed during the investigation this sense the investigation presented process, generating aproximately 15 made an inspection of social recording hours. Transcriptions wil be participant actors in those metioned published individually and in parallel events, with especial interest in the way on this investigation paper in a opinions of emerging groups, looking book format, in which the reader would for new interpretations related with political construction.
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a) Objectives What is the tangible extent of Explain the political and citizen demands? ideological content of 2015 political crisis with the main basis Which were the modalities of of social representation theory and social protests? political imaginary concept. What is the contemporary Examine the rol of political and electoral scene referring to social protagonists throughout the forces and protagonists who period stated. participated in the 2019 electoral process and how they have Identify in retrospective, the collected the proposals derived speeches and positions of main from “La plaza” 2015? protagonist during the “situational phase”. Which is the origin, estructure, proposal and ideology of the new Setting implications for social political groups for 2019 electoral movement and political forces at process? Which one of these the present time, as a response to political groups was really the scenario under development originated from la Plaza? for the 2019 electoral process. c) Delimitation of Temporary b) Questions asked space
Which were the forces and In this case, the construction of the protagonists involved in the 2015 subject matter which refers to the crisis in Guatemala? symbolic evocation of the political event and its established Which is the specific ideological representations. We appreciate in “La content of citizen demands? Plaza 2015” concepts (prefereably widespread by the media) a serie of meanings, values and attitudes concentrated around “being”” a
140 d From outrage to spectacle: la Plaza 2015
citizen and that demand an exemplary beggining of this research paper representation of public practice, (IIPS, 2018). Finally the temporal envolving individual dimension, but dimension, to which the term “La also to other politician, following the Plaza” refers, is circumscribed to the lacanian postulate “the other always action undertaken between April and be”. The days of 2015 protests arise August of this year, in as much as the from an inadequacy plaintiff, causing a interest of symbolic content of the collective problem regarding to political demand associated with its temporal spectacle, which contributes decisively field. to the construction of the symbol “La Plaza” (ECAP –by its acronym in Regarding to its epistemic Spanish), 1999, p. 230). In its delimitation, the term “La Plaza” established function, “La Plaza” is a dialectically articulates its physical- term that does not put into stake the territorial character with its synchronic subject (which demands the cessation condition. It pretends to signify a of corruption) and implicity to the break regarding to citizen Other, the responsible of the problem. responsibility and politics in public In any case this conceptual symbiosis matters. Validate and legitimate any does not leave aside de interactions political or ideological position is not between the real and the imaginary. part of this investigation. However, it For its part, referring to the “space” is know that the term “La Plaza 2015” where the event subject matter make reference to a kind of “citizen occurred (la Plaza de la Constitución), awaken” in Guatemala.
For its part, making reference to the In this sense, our investigation “space” where the event-study matter visualize the concept as an took place (La Plaza de la expression of what Fair (2009) Constitución), we mention to its pointed out as a return to the “unrest symbolic function, but also territorial. in culture”, remembering the well- In any case, “La Plaza” suggests a known work of Sigmund Freud, 1930, physical place that modify on its asmuch as our time is characterized allegorical resignification. It is by a globalization, overconsumption, importatn to emphasize that the the pos-truth and individualism. In symbolic space was addressed at the short, because of the fall of meta- narrative and the search for sense.
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Thus, “La Plaza” can visualises itself • Collecting data equals to getting as a social “symthom” and the citizen the narrative of memories, demands as path to the fullness of events or situations constructing political enjoyment, a version of the an ordinary knowledge or about lacanian “pure enjoyment” that will events. never be achieved, since its established function is mythical in • Using the data collection without character. (Appleton, 2016, p. 92). numerical measure to discover or improve research questiones. d) Methodological Route • Do not limit to an inflexible Regarding to the methodological route, estrategy which only considers the the team work considred the existence measurable and external aspect of of two great epictemic paradigms: phenomena. quantitative and qualitative (See Chart No. 1). Following the sense of the • Usually, do not prove hypothesis Directorate General for Research – since they are generated during the DIGI – (by its acronym in Spanish) process, and they are concretized from our Alma Máter, the qualitative acoording to study data and results. paradigm according to Herrera (2017) is characterized by: • Investigate in a flexible ways and work among events and thier • Explore the social processes interpretations, among answers and that underlie human interactions. the theory development.
• Describing situations, events, • Supporting in the interpretative people, iteractions, behaviors and its perspective of human actions manifestations. meanings and its institutions.
142 d From outrage to spectacle: la Plaza 2015
Chart No. 1 Qualitative Paradigm and Quantitative Paradigm Qualitative Paradigm Quantitative Paradigm
Qualitative Methods Quantitative Methods
Phenomenology and Comprenhension Logical Positivism
Naturalistic observation, without control. Pervasive and controlled measurement “Subjetive” “Objective”
From inside the data From outside the data
Exploratory, inductive, descriptive Confirmatory, inferencial, deductive
Process Oriented Result Oriented
“Substancial and extensive” Data “Stable and repeatable” Data
Not general General
Holistic Particular
Dynamic Reality Static Reality
Source: Bautista, E (2007). Qualitative and quantitative investigation in social work. Análisis y construcción de modelos teóricos de tres casos prácticos en Trabajo Social.
e) Methodology, Techniques discussed, which are divided in three: and tools consultant groups. (See Chart No. 3).
Due to this is an investigation In order to keep coherence between following a qualittive paradigm, proposed objectives and expected semiestructured interviews were results, people to interview were proposed in the process, in order to divided into three groups, according know the opinion of different citizen to the following chart which, does not sectors and identify relevant correspond to any type of hierarchical positions and speeches. In this connection: ways, it was consider the need to continue the conceptual joint of Group of scholars. In this group was social representations theory and sought to know the scholars’ specifically to the imaginary group perception about 2015 events. The concept. For that purpose, an criterion considered was the type of strategy design supported in journalist and academic publications semiestructured interview was developed by the interviewer. 143
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With the collaboration of: 4. Otra Guatemala Ya 1. Édgar Gutiérrez 5. Hagámonos el Paro. 2. Mario Roberto Morales 6. La Batucada del Pueblo 3. Simona Yagenova 7. Carlos Bianchi f) Fieldwork strategy Group of generators of public opinion. In this group media personalities come Fieldwork strategy was the main together who have generated methodological strategy in this explanations disseminated in media second part of the investigation. This and social networks. It interviewed at: effort was established as basic action to obtan information in a direct way 1. Phillip Chicola with social organizations, generators 2. Martín Rodríguez Pellecer of public opinion, and of course, the 3. Gloria Álvarez group of scholars. Such activity was 4. Rodrigo Polo considered necessary, since in the first release of this investigation (IIPS, Social organizations group. For this 2018) a synthesis was included about level social activist were selected from the emerging participants of “La some organization participating in “La Plaza” which constributed an Plaza 2015” protests. Whereas there approximately of general character, were several organization which product of bibliographic and conform the movement it was difficult hemerographic reviews which to interview all of them, consequently outlined a future direct approchement the number were reduced and with the groups. interviews were requested to: The consultation to the scholars was 1. Justicia Ya formulated with the objectibe to 2. University General Coordinator expand the explanatory direction of (conformed by Landivarianos, the investigation. Starting from AEU, Acción UVG). generated questions, its vision and 3. Guatemalan University Union reading of political process were (UUGT by its acronym in Spanish) asked, with the chance of create an academic and political dialogue and its result was highly enlightening.
144 d From outrage to spectacle: la Plaza 2015
On the other hand the generators of In keeping with the lacaian public opinión and social interpretation, about the imaginary, communicators also were considered symbolic and real, Castoriadis in the study due to they are essential suggest the imagined and concrete agents in these situations, on which dimensions, like desire realization informative function is the key in the and social aspirations which have a creation of imaginaries. The interviews place in the psychic world of were developed during March and individuals but which become April, a total of 13 interviews with concrete into objects or everyday different modalities: personal customs. Although it is similar to the interviews (11), videoconference notion of ideology in Althusser, the interview (1), and interview by e-mail concept of imaginary in Castoriadis (1). (See chart No. 2) refers us to an exchange of great richness between councious and The investigation followed up on unconscious. For that reason, this intelectual dimensions proposed by research paper did not follow the Castoriadis for social imaginary interpretation track proposed by the studies. political culture studies, which referring to Echegoye (2003) we can consider it hegemonic today.
Chart No. 2 Developing the fieldwork strategy
Interview Place of Months of Interview Group Implementation Implementation Mode Social IIPS Meeting Room (3) March (5) Organization 6 in person Guatemala City Coffee Shoop April (1) Group interview (3) Group of Nómada Office (1) March (3) 3 in person generators of Guatemala City Coffee April (1) 1 videoconference Public oponion Shoop (2) Vía Skype (1)
USAC Central Campus (1) 2 in person Scholars FLACSO Guatemala (1) 1 vía e-mail Group April (3) Vía Gmail (1)
Source: IIPS, Political Studies Area, 2019.
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Chapter I
Between spectacle and outrage: incubation of “contained anger”
Recent history shows us that the political Guatemala: a bureaucratic – class has resorte to series of strategies to democratic state? manage its public image, in order to consolidate its hegemony. In the The transition stage to the “democratic era”, it is a fact that the democracy, begun in Guatemala manipulation and instrumentalization of the towards the first half of the eighties masses are practical that displaced the ideological and electoral competition on of the previus century, has been the equal terms, as valid procedures of a backdrop for the rise and fall of a healthy democracy. Thus, politics in significant number of political Guatemala is reduced to a kind of parties, process that became the spectacle aimed to conquer, keeping and formation of extreme multy party expanding the sphere of control, system. To be precise, we could contuining with the classic scheme proposed by Maquiavelo in his famous qualify the previos by saying that work “The Prince”. In this particular case, Guatemala has gradually embraced we value the representation of the Pérez- a system that formaly seems to be Baldeti presidential binomial from a several political parties, but which symbolic perspective, in accordance with has a clear inclination towards the plan stated at the article published in centrism. Thus, political parties not the Politics and Society Magazien number 55 (IIPS, 2018), whose explanatory main matter their ideological affiliation, subject is supported by the social tend to generate alliances that representation theory and the concept of converge on centrism-political right imaginary groups. A theoretical side that options which in their tropical provides a novel looks around legal version, translate into a conjugation actions against the executive branch of conservative traditions, militarism headlines in 2015 and its historical correlation, the citizen movements of and repressive policies, covert of outrage. Everything seems to indicate that explicit, of “hard-handed”. both antagonistic forces has a conditional realtionship, however, there are several In this regard, a study conducted by questions to be resolved. Peláez Almengor (2001) about the perception that corporate groups
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have about political parties during was reduced to determine which of all the years “the generalship” (1970s could best represent the interest of the of the twentieth century) and the oligarchy. Undoubtedly, this function transition to democracy, ensures established the basis of the heritage that the weakness of the systems of our day (Reyes, 1998), as well as was due in a large part to the lack of the phenomenon of co-optation and institutionalization of the political capture of the state (Waxenecker, organization, whose political game 2019).
Image No. 1 Plaza de la Constitución, the day of the National Strike August, 27 2015
Fhotography: Jorge Aragón, 2015.
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The roots of the bureaucratic- extent, this have been about the authoritarian tradition in Guatemala unequal financing of political parties, are long history. To illustrate this the “original sin” of the electorate situation, Rouquié (1994, p. 111) system of Guatemala, which favored remind us that from the turbulent over many years the “democracy”. 70s years until the Constitution That is, without guaranties of equality enactment of 1985, all government and equitable access to political were represented by military, with game, any electoral system that is exception of the period of the democratic can subsist as such. Bachelor Julio César Méndes Sooner or later, it will move towards Montenegro (1966-1970). During its corrupted counterpart. these years the partisan ideological sprectrum was completely reduced, That political system has managed giving raise to the creation of a to remain without great changes or facade democracy, according to significant threats, forming a legal Solórzano Martínez (1983). In words culture, functional for the re- of Torres-Rivas (2010, p. 142) the production of consensus and authoritarian stage of the developing conditions that ensure the State was discuss. From this maintenance of the institutional perspective, the obligatory questions order, guaranteed by the 1985 turns out to be, how far did this Constitution. In this way the genuine corporate state scheme change democratic processes postulated after the establishment of the juridically, collide against a dynamic democratic model, towards the first historical exclusion that leaves a half of the 80s of the past century? very limited margin to authentic social participation (Arriola y Rodas, Within this logic it should be noted 1998). that the options of centrism-political left continued to be reduced, being The previus does not imply that the their participation in a modest way, Guatemalan political system has not able to articulate massive been exempt from questioning since electorate wills. Some political its turn towards the democracy since parties have gone so far as to the beginnings of the past century, an disappear because they are unable aspect that is noted with the to achieve significant representation intermittent irruption of political among the electorate. To a large events that have culminated with
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conservative legalistic restorations, populism and political fetishism. which have achieved circumstantial Politics as a banal spectable accept consensus in favor of the the signifier more than the meaning dominance of a democratic- and give raise to atrophy such as the bureaucratic order. These simulation of the “people” needs, the restorations have been constituted fascination of electoral show or the as triggering for the production of permissiveness of corruption. It is no symbols and representations coincidence that the current capable of generating type of Guatemalan president “who in 2011 “minimum consensus” able to changed his real name to his artistic maintain the reproduction of the alter ego for electoral purposes” has system, between traditional elites as last profession of comedian and and extra-legal parallel powers. film and televisión actor.
According to Torres-Rivas (2010, p. According Bourdieu (2000), we 143) the post-conflict democratic could say that this contradictory subsidiary state generated new bureaucratic-democratic state configurations of power, social forces becomes “Central bank of symbolic of interest, as well as new ideas of capital”, in its search for material and symbolic culture, which consolidation. Citing as example of were obliged to muster balances of the previous the policital crisis of power. The basis of this type of state 1993 which is preced by an is based on a depleted and inequal ephemeral alliance of conservative society unable to reconcile the latent parties, it was resolved by inter-ethnic conflict where the free- institutional means, although without market discourse and the minimum significant changes in the State tried with little success to hegemonic configuration of become into its dominant ideology. economic elites (Álvarez, 1999), Today, while other political parties much less questioning the historical speak about post-neo-liberalism, influence and authority of the Guatemala is recognized as a failed northern neighbor, hegemonic since state. Its legitimacy has been in 1930 (López, 1996). Obviously that permance questioning and has only such crisis was followed by a managed to maintain coherence conservative restoration process through legalistic restorations,
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Politics and Society Magazine – Research Reports – 2019 that leads the presidency to the former inequality conditioned realities such magistrate of conscience, Bs.Ramiro as poverty (7 out of 10 de León Carpio, promoted a Guatemalans currently live in that constitutional amendment as the condition), chronic malnutrition, government first action. lack of acces to decent housing in urban means, the inefficient At that time 37 articles of the Magna distribution of municipal services, Carta were reformed with a modest health and education, and in citizen participation, where was general the lack of opportunities, a highlighted an abstention of more matter that obligue hundreds of than 85%. Among the matters to compatriots to migrate year after amend the presidential terms was year by economic reasons, related reduced to four years, the elimination with the lack of job opportunities. of confidential expenditures, the Certainly the speech for the fight abolition of the Supreme Court of against corruption fulfills a unifying Justice and the election of new function among civil society representatives to the Legislative organizations and occupies Branch. In this way the “serranazo” important spaces between the one of the Guatemalan political media and political parties. spectacles for excellence, it was rather a temporary displacement of The party institutions have failed in the holders of power, political class, their articulate and representative responsible of the origin of nation function of the general interest vices and issues. Among them it is during the phase called “the the corruption. transition” so its offers are not During the course of democratic life, coherents with the results of the the organization of public opinion has public service. This has caused that been effected on the basis of a the social deficits provoke demagogic management in matters of disruption into democracy. public interest in social practices as Regarding to quantitative well as within its symbolic clarifications in the key style of The representations. Thus, the speech Economist, we can properly talk against the corruption of the state has about complete and imperfect overlapped with the economic democracies, hybrid and authoritarian regimes. On that
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spectrum, Guatemala’s political function, but also policies. That history of the last 40 years can be reality does not escape either, the identified as a hybrid regime with fact that territorial planning during authoritarian characteristics. Under the internal war was strongly such conditions only a legal symbolic conditioned by the regime has allowed the permanece of counterinsurgency fight, which led this political system. the country to important community ruptures and deterritorialization processes. (Aragón, 2008) Democracy, structural adjustment and globalization With the irruption of neoliberalism in Guatemala around 1983 from the Recounting the socioeconomic diversification of agricultural history of the 20th century we can production and the fall of export assure that, despite the introduction production in international markets, of certain reforms aimed at gradually the country entered a slow capitalism modernization( as the process of a policy adoption of creation of social security or work structural adjustment, destined to code), Guatemala never fully adopted deregulate the economy. Actions the principles of the welfare State, that had a relative success for which had a great period of apogee society (Peláes Almengor, 2001), but in the Latin American region. they managed to consolidate Subsequently, the industrialization significantly the influence of financial model by import institution had a oligarchy associated with the weak articulation around the Central banking and service sector, in the American common market. Even bulk of the national economy. though this formula of regionalization propitiated a modest economic Thus, social and policies processes growth, this did not improve the living of the transition to democracy and conditions on the population, nor did it the abandonment of authoritarianism stimulate balanced growth of urban accompanied with important reforms centers for the Guatemalan case. at the economic level. Such actions displaced the influence of traditional As a result of the previous information, oligarchic sectors, as are the the country has nowadays a agrarian and, or a lesser extent, the macrocephalic territorial model, due to industrial, as a result that the social the permanence of a constant expectations around the democratic concentration of economic 151
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formula, collided against economic through conservative restructuring import models, and Guatemala that, in some way or another, and the rest of Latin Americans perpetuate the viability of the regime. In countries adapted with different that stage, most communication media rhythms. With this the social have not tried nor have they been relations of production were consolidated as “fourth power”. modified, and the consumption Following business agendas have been habits too, amid imposed schemes determining factors to specify the by globalization, essentially reproduction of consensus and economic phenomenon, although discourses that articulate wills favorable unquestionable cultural to the hegemonic management of the consequences. Every four years public res, supporting or disqualifying, the political parties have presented according to your own interests, to a wide range of solutions that do governments without a country project not find application in practice, and, definitely, without political ethics. In limiting the exercise power to a Guatemala we can talk about clans reserved matter to the economic corporate that make use of parties in elites that control the parties and their function of simple electoral the political class. Definitely, it is a vehicles, not representative of the scheme that gives rise to a wide interests of society. The media, in this questioning of the democratic context, also have had an important role system and that no en few in terms of symbolic production in occasions has become in a clamor around politics and what is political. to instituting new orders, either through refundational demands in From the imaginary of peace to the form of a constituent assembly, struggle against corruption or, through reforms that contribute to governance. Talking about In the conditions above described, it is Fonseca (2018), is about not strange that the Guatemalan state refundational projects “from below” has continued operating under a loot or “from above”, that take place as logic politician, despite efforts to transit consequences of hegemonic towards democracy. crises, which have been resolved normally
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They were sublimated to the level Good parts of those efforts were of desired society, as well, directed towards the concretion of the sabotaged and disqualified by signing of peace in 1996. However, the traditional groups of power. Part of relevant objections to the project of the that social drive towards search of Agreements de Paz (Flores, 1997), said justice, groups related to defending event had the potential to influence human rights and political activism transformations of political started to reclaim a higher transcendence, being one of the events incidence in decision-making most important of the second half of the processes. to experience of the Guatemalan 20th century, in terms of Society Assembly Civil in the the spectacle of politics. decade of the years ninety of the Although it was a new missed previous century, was followed by opportunity, it should be noted that the other types of consensus Peace Accords favored novel social instances. practices and experiences of Such was the case of the organization within civil society, which Guatemala Forum that emerged on had already adjusted to new August 8, 2002 as a pressure management scenarios since the group that brought together to conjuncture of 1993. Amid the different national sectors uncertainty that involved the result of represented by notable citizens, popular consultation 1999 - where CACIF, academic sectors, activists citizens rejected the proposal for of human rights, and constitutional reforms directly derived of representatives of the small and the Agreements (Zepeda, 2000 -, the medium business, feminist previous decade started with a organizations, among others. movement politician around its They´re intention was to influence consolidation as "State Agreements". the decision-making processes Along with the lack of consensus for around the struggle against concretion of the Fiscal Pact, without a corruption (USAC, 2002). Both are doubt some that event involved erosion excellent examples of (re) of the "imaginary" built around of the foundation projects, in sense peace process. The Peace Accords evoked by Fonseca (2018). Around involved renewal of the political system, that and other social "clubs" and historical opportunity, and search for politicians, the fight against consensus. corruption began to take shape.
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Image Number 2 Student Organization in the National Strike August 27th 27 2015
Fhotography by: Jorge Aragón, 2015. as well as bribery and purchase of Thus, during the first years of previous wills. With this, it would be possible for decade, talk began of processes that criminal groups will use State could put democracy in question and institutions to carry out financial the recent transition that involved the laundering operations of money signing of the peace treaty. One of through private banking, facilitate the those processes concerned the action of drug trafficking in the territory, corruption as a consequence of State control customs to encourage capture phenomenon. The organized smuggling, continue conditioning the civil society concern was that the performance of volatile political parties Guatemalan state will become and generally seize key structures of controlled by parallel powers, through the State, for the benefit of crime electoral and legal institutional organize mechanisms.
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Various experts on security issues and turning point for creation of said various civil society groups indicated international entity, occurred after the need to cope opportunely to such a dissolution of the United Nations scenario, formulating a creation of a Mission in Guatemala, MINUGUA, commission to investigate the body that accompanied the peace existence of structures parallel. process and the compliance with the Following the subscription of an Agreements between January 1997 agreement between the Organization and December 2004, although it is of United Nations (UN) and the State well known that the UN found from Guatemala, the proposal of the directly involved in peace talks since creation of an inquiry commission of the nineties. It was until 12 illegal bodies and clandestine devices December 2006 that the State of of security, specifically on January 7, Guatemala signed an agreement for 2003. creation of a commission with a Initially, the assumption that supported more specific mandate, focused on the creation of a commission of such judicial investigations around nature rested in that, under the war, corruption and the fight against criminal groups they had acted with impunity. That way, consolidation total impunity, in both, political democratic became a factor of repression, psycolo-gical violence and minor, subordinate to corruption as in State hijacking, and a formation problem that without downplaying it, of a corporatist scheme, which used it was placed as the center of the public resources for decades for his political agendas of social groups, own benefit. In those years, a the media and of course business consensus prevailed tacit among civil chamber. society in the sense that these Ascent of the Political Party clandestine groups had not ceased “Patriota”: obscenity and their criminal activities after the signing political tartufism of the peace. It is more, it was thought that the transition to In 2011 the electorate leaned in the democracy had meant its second round, for the option that consolidation like big influence offered strong opposition to structure on the state. The criminality and state corruption.
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Politics and Society Magazine – Research Reports – 2019 This was how the retired General's project Otto Pérez Molina and the known as one of the "Generals of Bachelor, Roxana Baldetti rose with the electoral victory over its peace". In 2001 he founded the Patriot Party, being its first general antagonist, Dr. Manuel Baldizón. A secretary. He declined his participation of 60% empowered presidential candidacy to support citizens to exercise suffrage, served the Bachelor, Oscar Berger on his to give some legitimacy to Pérez election route in 2003, going on to Molina, who obtained 53.74% of form part of his government cabinet support, on the 46.26% obtained for his opponent. As a whole, democracy as Security Commissioner and Defense, once elected president, as a form of government had little position he held for a short period to legitimacy. According to the measurements made by Latin then occupy a seat parliamentary, place he had obtained by popular America Barometer, social vote. perception of democracy was equivalent to just 36% in 2011, ten In the other hand, Ms. Roxana points less than the previous year Baldetti began his political activity by (Latin America Barometer under the government of the Corporation, 2011, p. 29). engineer Jorge Serrano, between 1990 and 1993, serving as Sub All in all, the citizenry chose for first Secretary of Public Relations of the time to a military man as president in full democratic era. It should be noted Presidency of the Republic. She gained some notoriety on the that the participation of presidential occasion of the institutional crisis of binomial in political issues had already gained some notoriety. On May 1993, specifically in the censorship to the press and control the one hand, Pérez Molina had a of the information that media were visible activity as a strategist spreading about "serranazo". Later it counterinsurgent during the went on to form part of the group of Guatemalan war. Later, he played a image consultants of the key role in the defenestration of Guatemalan Republican Front, engineer Jorge Serrano in 1993. Subsequently, participated in subsequently joining the Great National Alliance, where she negotiations between the government obtained a parliamentary seat in the and the armed insurgency, being 2003 elections.
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Image Number 3 Manifestations of the National Stoppage day, 2015
Fhotography by: Jorge Aragón, 2015. In 2007 she was elected again as a situations of misspend public deputy, this time for the Party resources and unfortunate Patriot, group that lost in the second statements. Perez Molina, against electoral round against the National the interests of The United States Unit of Hope UNE of the engineer assured that the best way to fight Álvaro Colom. From the Congress of drug trafficking in the Central the Republic she constituted an American region, was promoting the important counterweight to the legalization of drugs, something that action of the UNE. In 2012 she was rejected by the American became the first woman to occupy government. In the other hand, the position of vice president, an Baldetti was denounced in the opportunity for fostering changes in media communication for excessive mentality regarding the situation of and unnecessary expenses (like women and family, which was lost buying gifts for friends or family due to his ambition personal. close to her), and as well as his inaccurate assertions to the Mexican Once in possession of their charges, president soon the new rulers were involved in
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Enrique Peña Nieto, made for justify Leaders of El Salvador and Honduras, their megalomania. being the central theme of the meeting, the Central America migratory The image of the rulers began to be wave and the fight against corruption. teased and attacked, especially on All this within the framework of the help social networks. Baldetti's case was that Obama administration had offered more notorious, because his political for the north triangle, the Alliance for image began to fall into disrepute, Prosperity. Help, that in the case of because for many mistakes. It´s Guatemala, was conditioned to action remembered the unfortunate situation of the CICIG in the identification and lived during the presentation of the II dismantling of criminal structures of report government, when the vice- corruption and facilities that government president claimed to have been the could provide for the fight against victim of a personal attack by two impunity. young women. Maneuver that public opinion described as self-sabotage, But the detonating for citizen outrage although in his opportunity Juan occurred on April 26 2015 (See Figure Carlos Monzón, private secretary and No. 4), when CICIG and the Public Baldetti's political operator, assured Ministry organized a press conference that the attack was real and that the in which they pointed to the private intellectual author was Karlos de secretary of the vice presidency, the León, who turned himself in to the captain (r) Juan Carlos Monzón, of authorities in March 2019. being the brain of a customs fraud operation. The worn out Baldetti's Until then, the actions of the Vice image before the public opinion was President had not passed of being conjugated with the evidence provided seen as part of the political folklore. by research entities judicial, leading to a But the case of the Lake of Amatitlán popular generalized discontent, which in March 2015 was something that had extensive media coverage of caused unrest and controversy among communication as well as an important the citizens, because it was clearly an orchestrated scam by Baldetti Elías. information traffic in already By then, Joe Biden, Vice President of consolidated social networks a call the United States had already made to arrange through such means interviewed with Pérez Molina and the to demand resignation by Baldetti Elías was enough to start a series of protests,
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which took place in the Plaza de la The truth of the case is that social Constitution but they spread to other networks they became an essential complement of information spread by departments, replicating the event, even outside of Guatemala. the traditional media which, meanwhile, they were favoring In this context, the image of Baldetti another type of fight, in this case, went from mockery in networks business hegemonic type. Such way social to be object of citizen outrage, that citizen protests of 2015 and the her resignation was an object petition for resignation of the rulers of pursued by public opinion. Even the Patriot Party, are events that also some positions they referred to the allowed to understand the game of phenomenon as a sort of "political interests of the media, giving way to lynching" based on the another factor influencing the dehumanization of the figure of the invention of that collective imaginary Vice President in networks social articulated around citizen outrage: and media, perhaps as a defensive social networks. strategy in favor of Pérez Molina (Álvarez, 2017).
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Chapter II
The citizen’s square or the construction of a collective imaginary
In a must-read work for young An information excess, that penalizes generations, Annie Le Brun (2004) the morally acceptable, the civically ensures that the (globalized) world viable, politically correct. Penalizes contemporary, presents us with an the morally acceptable, the civically interesting paradox: The new viable, and politically correct. Are we information technologies are a form in the presence of a social order of seduction that away from freedom, where the power resides in the one insofar they bring us closer to who has the knowledge or who censorship. Since publication from controls what we can know? In this the aforementioned book to this day, section we discuss three hypotheses the West got used to using those around the protests of 2015 in technologies that fascinate us with its Guatemala, based on interviews with promise of cultural flow, they offer social groups participating, knowledge practically unlimited, communicators, intellectuals and provide the possibility of immediate bloggers, in a search to elucidate that communication in real time and, imaginary of outrage. moreover, they put us before an Between April and August 2015 the overflow of information that, Guatemalan political system apparently, guarantee one possibility experienced it´s crisis of deepest of access to the other and its representation of the democratic era. intimacy, putting into play the "space As an effect of criminal complaints biographical". Following Lacan, the formulated by the International internet is another opportunity to Commission against Impunity in make way for crafting of desire that, Guatemala, representatives of the at the same time, serves us as Executive Body, General Otto Pérez guidance by providing a sense of Molina and the Bachelor Ms. Roxana reality and belonging. In addition to Baldetti Elías, they felt exposed before enriching it and, in certain extremes, the national and international public supplant it, it is (hyper) virtual reality opinion as part of a customs fraud serves as censorship, which it is not network that, under the State based on prohibition but on excess. 160 d From outrage to spectacle: la Plaza 2015
protection of, has operated for happened in 1993, with occasion of decades in detriment of scarce public institutional breakdown caused by resources. In a lagging country with the engineer Jorge Serrano in his historical social deficits, this situation attempt to win to the parliament that was derived in social protests of was not aligned to his interests. That discontent and social rejection, crisis was resolved through stimulating broad participation institutional solutions they did not traditional social actors and emerging, involve questioning background to as well as formation of numerous the democratic regime. Rather, it is social groups summoned through remembered as an event that gave virtual social networks being the the opportunity of looking for a outrage citizen its common solution that ended for symbolically denominator. Of course, among the strengthening the regime. The outrage and the way the crisis was second time, in 2015, the solution to resolved it is still appropriate to raise the crisis also required a questions about the national politician parliamentary process, which was process, in function of underline preceded by disapproval and moral prospective scenarios. Undoubtedly, sanction of society, upon the there are issues to deepen that denunciation of the rulers as the require an intellectual effort to clarify head of a parallel structure to the conditions that favored such citizen State, dedicated to fraud tax and protest, practically unpublished in a bribery: "The Line". country used to violence, silence and forgetting in political matters. In common, both processes have the virtue of having been resolved And it is that 2015 was an atypical by legalistic solutions although there year already that for the second time in recent Guatemalan history, a are profound differences in so far as presidential binomial was separated the duration of each situation and from the public function before ending their social participation. In 1993 the the mandate for which they were great antagonists of serranismo popularly elected. Having the were the media, upon which the opportunity to lead the nation to censorship fell. Undoubtedly, in prosperity and inclusion, the rulers 2015 journalistic work was also opted for the unjust enrichment, decisive in the gestation of resulting in outrage, social disapproval indignation, although e and the jail. Something similar 161
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Image Number 4 Social Organizations in National Stoppage August 27th. 2015
Photography by: Jorge Aragón, 2015.
Also, both events have in common in matters of public interest. In others that they gave rise to the putting in words it's about collective invention of practice citizenship model that, by an imaginary of defense of a disapproving of government "democratic" order and a historical management, satirize and sanction it, "Citizen responsibility". The Civil they built an I-other, an ideal, an Society assembly was the result of imaginary around what should be the "serranazo". In 2015, “the Line” civic participation of society gave rise to “La plaza”
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In 2015 the complaints provided by the results of the field work developed the MP and the CICIG (see Figure No. within the framework of our 5) they overflowed the indignation of investigation. the society (read, class population urban mean), causing reactions from La Plaza as a simulation widespread disapproval to the public administration of the Patriot Party, it Consulted about it, groups as Justice was already in decline. Nevertheless, Now (then Renounce Now) and Let's we must take into account that in help us, they insist that the 2015 2015 a phenomenon happened in protests were spontaneous actions Guatemala unpublished informational without planning, which were directed towards demanding resignation of where media and networks social rulers, moved directly for the aligned in search of the same information of the press, but gathered objective, in this case, the exit from in the social networks. Social the presidential binomial. networks became a space for That factor caused a break, a deliberation and a meeting where the interruption regarding logic traditional real is transformed into a product of a communicational of a political nature decision conscious, which were under for Guatemala, country where cover of tweets. Thus, the material democratic exercise and responsibility become residual, insofar that the citizen are reduced aspects to the act social networks were the place where of voting every four years. What the decisions that guided to the happened then in 2015 so that a part subsequent social practice. The reality of the urban middle class show fury as a simulation, following the sense of (although in an orderly manner) their Baudrillard (1978). The social groups discontent, reaching the extreme to that were formed around the virtual form virtual social groups, since calls were mostly young outraged by important calls were elaborated? In the documented situation in the press. order to contribute to the social The communication with each other explanations around such an preferably occurred through social important question, this section offers networks. Thus, groups like Despierta three explanatory hypotheses, which Huehue, VOS Xela, resign now are derived from the interpretation of Escuintla,resign now Xela, resign now Cobán, were the first to settle
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Politics and Society Magazine – Research Reports – 2019 outside the metropolitan region. performance from Ambassador Many of the interviewees insisted in Todd Robinson, who personified the which each of its activities were self- figure of Joe Biden, American Vice financed. But others claim that at President at that time. some point were offered some kind of financial support, especially to Once the resignation of Baldetti, through non-governmental organi- Pérez Molina gave a lecture press in zations. In other cases, occurred which the main protagonist was solidarity, through the donation of Robinson, who took over the instruments in a private form to the presidential podium. Without collective La Batucada from town. question, at that moment, the figure Similar criteria could be seen among of the ambassador enjoyed greater university student organizations, legitimacy than the president, which arise soon, although they causing an imaginary displacement. become an important role. In social The protesters did not express any networks a situation was built in concern about it. keeping quiet was seen as coward In this way, social groups and complicity. outraged citizens without no La Plaza as a hostage ideological affiliation or politics, by meeting at the 20 peaceful Another reflective nucleus shared by demonstrations developed during a minority group of interviewees 2015, they served as a factor of refers to social media as a simple legitimating to a political process catalyst of extraterritorial decisions, that they never had control of. In fact largely due to geostrategic interests it´s supposed that some groups are in Central America. Thus, the received some type of financing or protests of La Plaza were a material aid and that the underlying peripheral phenomenon, a claim was always bring about necessary counterpart to endow changes, but not structural with some legitimacy the decisions transformations. Thus, it was taken at the political center. It is say, necessary to “inoculate” the a hostage (Baudrillard, 1978). In that population with the virus fighting sense, we speak openly about role against corruption, in such a way of the United States in Guatemala, that "ange contained” always made which exceeds the obvious part of the strategies
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of traditional hegemonic group . This the "political class". Actually by assumption is based too on the appealing to a legalistic exit was dissolution of "La Plaza" in the favored a conservative solution. following years, because certain In such a way that the events of 2015 kinds of protests against the encouraged, just as it has happened President Jimmy Morales Cabrera, at other times, a media turmoil, an didn´t achieve accessions seen in angry citizenship and a solution within 2015 against Pérez and Baldetti. It the institutional scheme, despite the gives an artificial sense, sweetened fact that there were voices demanding character, of the "La plaza" protests. formation of another constituent power La Plaza as a conservative and the founding of a new restoration constitutional regime. While citizen participation had the potential to A criterion around the 2015 protests achieve fundamental changes, points towards the overflow of nothing was done. Instead of, they feelings of outrage that germinated continued with the consigned in the throughout the presidential term of Constitution of the 1985. Pérez-Baldetti binomial, by mistakes Again, we are faced with a legal and excesses in exercise power. solution for a political problem, However, once Baldetti's resignation because there did not exist among the was achieve, collectives didn´t find participants levels of political points of meeting around concrete consciousness capable of articu-lating demands. On the one hand, it is consensus. Neither, were social understood that the financing report leaderships, that is verified because of political parties of CICIG, they there were nonexistence of political didn´t get enough social support to groups claiming the demands of “La provoke widespread discontent. On plaza” in the next electoral event. The the other hand, it could not juncture of 2015 closed with the materialize either the postponement celebration of general elections, of the electoral event, since there where the Bachelor Jimmy Morales are no ideal conditions for its Cabrera was victorious, representative realization. These factors were of a traditional military order and unable to sustain an absolute conservative. renewal of parties and
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Chapter III
Discussion of interview results
About the interviewees
Image Number 3 Details of each interview conducted
Group of Place and date of Interview Name Modality interviewees realization Duration
1. Carlos Adolfo Alemán of Meeting room Personal Unión Universitaria IIPS/USAC. Wednesday, 1.8 Interview Guatemalteca (UUGT) March 6th-2019 hours Patsy Avenida 2. Gabriel Wer of Personal Reforma, zona 9. 0.8 Justicia Ya interview Thursday, March 7th- hours
2019 3. Brenda Lara of San Martín restaurant San Personal Hagámonos Cristobal. Sathurday, 1.82 interview El Paro March 9th-2019 hours 4. Bachelor.Luis Meeting room Velásquez, student of Personal IIPS/USAC. Tuesday, 1.1 la Escuela de Ciencia interview March 12th-2019 hours Política in 2015 5. Brenda Hernández El Cafetalito zona 1. and Isabel Saravia of Personal Tuesday, March 12th- 1.4 La Batucada del interview Group of social organizations Pueblo. 2019 hours
6. Carlos Bianchi, Meeting room Student of la Escuela de Personal IIPS/USAC.Monday, April 1.25 Ciencia Política in 2015 interview 8th-2019 hours
Building of Flacso 1. M.Sc Simona Personal Guatemala , Zone 10. 1 Yagenova interview
Wensday, April 3rd-2019 hora DIGED, Rectoría USAC 2. Dr. Mario Personal basement. Monday, April 1 Roberto Morales interview 8th-2019 hora
Group of
Academics Interview Via email. Monday, 3. M. Sc Édgar Gutiérrez via email April 29th-2019
Contine… 166 d From outrage to spectacle: la Plaza 2015
Group of Place and date Interview Name Modality interviewes of realization duration Video 1. M. Sc Gloria On Skype. Tuesday conference 0.5 hours Álvarez March 19th-2019 interview
of In Café Barista of Personal 2. Rodrigo Polo Miraflores. 1.7 hours interview Thursday, March 21st-2019 In Café Barista of 3. M. Sc Phillip Personal zone 14. Friday, 0.8 hours Chicola interview March 22nd-2019
public opinion
Group of generators Meeting room Personal 4. M. Sc Martín Rodríguez IIPS/USAC. Tuesday, 0.5 hours interview March 12th-2019
Source: IIPS, Area of Political Studies, 2019. Note: The interviews were carried out by the research team and, to the extent possible, it was tried that both members of the Area, participate in carrying it out. Not all interview requests were successfully received, for which 13 of the 16 interviews were conducted, and there was included to one person that was not in the social group organizations. As a total there were approximately 14 hours of recording, of the total of interviews carried out. Synthesis of interviews Interviews conducted during months of Since the interviewee who directed a March and April 2019 were very collective and participated in protests of enriching and allowed visualize 2015 - and also in the later ones in different perspectives of La plaza 2016 and 2017, until the communicator 2015. A diversity of views of the who documented what happened, political process and crisis of encouraged the debate on social representation of that year, allowed to networks and shared his perspectives draw conclusions about to the of what was caused, through construction of the imaginary collective microblogging. And of course the politician, the scope and limitations of academic that from the outside the protest, the achievements, although in occasions from within he mistakes and social organizational interpreted what happened, generated experiences among other series of hypotheses, immediate scenarios and, important ideas. This information in future ones, recommendations from complements substantially the an intellectual speech. documentary research. Postures were different and even opposing. Both, between groups of
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Politics and Society Magazine – Research Reports – 2019 interviewees and people. Each the imaginary political, meanings individual, from their perspective, given to the event and the slogans related their experience and reading used, historical lessons, actors, the that they did of the process what, for citizen demands and achievements. them it was certainly clearer with the pass of the time. The further they With the questionnaire for social went of peaceful protests from 2015, organizations it was intended to address the interpretation was clearer that social organizational experiences they could make of the process. Of around La Plaza and meet, from first course, many of the interpretations hand - until some of the main actors how they made of what happened were originated urban movements between April and September of represented, the partnership process or 2015 still remain, but impressions union of interests with others around the political scene from organizations, the modalities of used Guatemala, they were clearer over protest, wins and obstacles faced, time. personal and collective meanings given to their intervention in demonstrations Attending to the stated objectives and to the main slogans used, the initially the questionnaires used were stance regarding the celebration of differentiated, in order to get the most elections in September from 2015 as accurate information possible from well as their later experiences. experience of the interviewee in this social process. From that analysis, in Of course that the instrument applied the questionnaire aimed at was designed in such a way that it was academics and generators of public possible to guide the conversation opinion, it was sought that experts towards new questions. In some contribute with their interpretations interviews the questions no coincide about La Plaza "from outside", let´s and, therefore, the information provided say from the critical analysis that around the process was varied. they've been able to make of the event in later years. Clarifications The following is a synthesis of each were intended on the construction of interview.
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Group of Social Thought that could not happen. It Organizations was a concatenation of important facts, that I believe that success a) Carlos Adolfo Alemán of La Plaza at that time was representative of Unión because we all knew that Universitaria Guatemalteca corruption existed but a number of facts were managed to make (UUGT) them visible(Alemán, 2019). “Corrupt governors got used
to the calm” "The past generation couldn´t In his interview he argued that the rebel before Lucas García or Ríos Montt, or a guerilla. The organization that was leaded started corrupt ruler got used to the calm at the end of 2014 and at the and there were many events that beginning of 2015, with young people never manifested. So why is so who, discarded of their participation in special this generation? Which is political parties, decided to organize connected, they could see evidence of corruption on their as a project to disseminate phone that outraged them, they interuniversity academic activities, but went out to the streets and there that soon was introduced to the social was full respect of their rights demonstrations of 2015. ”(Alemán, 2019).
In his words, his participation began in this way:
[…] it started on Facebook, with He considered that no one believed Gabriel and all that people of that the call would work in networks, Renuncia Ya at that moment, even the organizers themselves, but it started out as merely nobody worked because the corruption was took it seriously, nor us as materialized in assets and concrete organizers took it in seriously. It events. In his words "Corruption was a started as an "go and take your bad smell that everyone felt, but did saucepan to La Plaza », from not know precisely where did it come there we saw that there were a from until that day” (Alemán, 2019). All hundred, two hundred, five this, added to the hospital crises, the hundred, a thousand, fifteen treatment for Amatitlán´s Lake, and the thousand, forty thousand and we citizen awakening called by social 169
Politics and Society Magazine – Research Reports – 2019 let's do such document, let's put networks and the media pressure on magistrates together communication produced the series of with Justicia Ya, I am a citizen, let's 2015 social protests. raise the Voice, at that moment it was aligned also Youth for Guate In his opinion, the objective of and there also arises another group UUGT was not only to manifest but that was the Student General also submit pressure documents Coordinator, the CEUG [by its before legal instances such as legal initials in Spanish). We were saying, protection, preliminary hearing, and the demonstrations are good, but initiatives of law, among others. what happens next? We gave us Thus, after the events of 2015, they that "split" but in a friendly way proceeded to consolidate as a because in the spaces of political formal organization with legal pressure we were always figured personality, statutes, bank account, and in La Plaza spaces they NIT (tax identification number in figured. It was like a healthy Guatemala), board of directors and, balance and that's how it happened generally, an organized body. (Alemán, 2019).
They did their best to stay in force How UUGT agreed on that the and therefore ensured that they elections were celebrated and then didn´t offered a single address to continued their course, and this is young people, because they did not where they collide with other social want to turn a "predictable" organizations that they do manifest by organization like others tried to form the slogan: politically young people to provide them resources and have an There the first clashes occurred academic letter, not a political one well we, did not believe or we still less ideological. They dedicated didn´t participate in that part of the to do political events with protest because that was already lawyersand other organizations, to a slogan of Justice Ya, some parts do public inspection and technique of the CEUG, so then no. Unlike, tables. we wanted debugging, "not saying, there are no people "and We always had a different we said, but that is not the way approach, although we participate how you are you going to debug actively in the demonstrations the the political system without approach of UGGT was more than elections? the congress or how? Congress, let’s do pressure in it, 170 d From outrage to spectacle: la Plaza 2015
they did not agree, which is why We instead of "In these conditions eventually they drifted apart. we have no elections" with institutions that helped us to organize activities, we held meetings b) Gabriel Wer representative to take the first steps to what was of Justicia Ya called the reforms to the Sector Justice (Alemán, 2019). “That Saturday I went to La Plaza and I didn’t know On the claim that young people what to do” starred in the movement and that politicians "messed with the wrong In his interview he gave details about generation", he claimed he was agree the intervention of the organization in with it, since the last generation could those protests, which was in two stages. An initial stage as Renuncia not manifest for the paranoia of Ya and a later stage like Justice Ya. In survival. To his judgment the corrupt ruler will was very used to the calm both stages there were the same and the youthful awakening was what members who led out the actions. starred and led to the success of La Renuncia Ya, is originates between Plaza. indignation, spontaneity and coincidence with others people, who "The past generation lost a impressive shared on social networks their amount of leaders and exponents, for interests in doing something before those losses the last generation lived the series of corruption allegations in fear. They believed that with that presented by CICIG and the Public generation the fears and lags were Ministry. going to be past towards this, but fortunately not, and there is the slogan Regarding his direct intervention he ”(Alemán, 2019). related how the incorporation took place in the movement of Renuncia On the association of interests with Ya, started by a Guatemalan woman other organizations considers that it of 53 years old: was easy at the beginning, because the interests were common, Lucia Mendizábal, who was a demanding the resignation of the friend from my mom, created the rulers, for which he had contact with event on Facebook and Justicia Ya, CEUG and others youth proceeded to add to the people organizations. Nevertheless, in some who were in a group of forms of protest and specific demands discussion that we had. That 171
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same day on my personal was achieved move to Facebook I put the following: "It demonstrations in others countries. can't be that we are like this and that we are not doing anything "It was where the straw that »she reads it and adds me as breaks the camel's back to me, organizer directly of the event honestly it wasn't a conscious without telling me a word and I get decision to say I go to protest and in fact I didn’t know, that saturday a notification that said "you were I arrived at La Plaza and I did not added as administrator »and then know what to do. Even La the message that said "I saw your Batucada arises from that, all
portal from Facebook and you looking at us, to decide what do we do? Nobody wanted to grab must join to the movement » (Wer, the baton to speak or grab the 2019). microphone and nobody wanted In summary, he considered that the to be part of it” (Wer, 2019).
beginnings of the protests were about an outrage shared by the sum of acts In this first stage they didn´t call of corruption. Roxana Baldetti resigns themselves as collectives because, in on May 8th, just before the second their words "back then, it was in an massive demonstration called on may individual way that we were driving 16th, and that's when the first this, with the only ones we had a decisions in the collective initiated what meeting were students from the they had preferred not to name University of San Carlos and themselves as something because identified as Usac Es Pueblo. " they didn't know whether to do it or not,
since she had already waived. Some The name of Justice Already came people inside of the group claimed that later to the second demonstration of they had to do it and go for the the 7 people who participated the 4 resignation of the president, because it youngest decided continue and the was impossible that he was not three older ones decided that they involved. don't wanted to go continue and After Roxanas Baldetti´s resignation , there is an internal struggle which occurs before the second because of that, "long discussions demonstration on may 16th and it and very stressful, especially, we would be the biggest of 2015 and it decided to leave Renuncia Ya and was one where La Plaza was filled, it that is over, to create Justica Ya,
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the plans of Justicia Ya later to which have been integrated by 2015. He reported that at the end of more participants and currently that year they did a brief internal are 21 people who work exercise on the main problems from voluntarily (Wer, 2019). Guatemala and saw that these are concentrated on three ones: 1) the About the generational topics and Justice system; 2) the electoral youth claimed they were not system, 3) the economic system. considered a "youth collective" and it bothered them to call them as such. And aware that they couldn't cover Questioned about it, he claimed: everything, or give an answer to everything, they decided to choose We have not identified ourselves only to work around the first and the as such because we believed second. Because they felt so that this was not an age nor overwhelmed, because, about the generational but something quite recent Jimmy Morales' choice, arrived wide. And second, that of the messages to Facebook and Twitter “generation wrong”, I remember denouncing things and requesting to that someone brought a poster pronounce on such issues, for which to La Plaza […] we never they restructured their objectives and published it, since we knew that limited the topics of interest to them Renuncia Ya didn´t born of a thereafter. Now, there are 21 youth proposal. Justicia Ya was volunteers who are part of the team a proposal of young people but it Justicia Ya those who are working in a wasn't a young initiative. rotary way, choosing roles to decide Obviously we are a young who can do something and if they country but that's circumstantial count with over time to it. and not because it is a young country the mobilizations Regarding the position they occurred (Wer, 2019). maintained on holding elections in 2015 he stated: In summary, he considers that youthful participation in his opinion My position was that I did not was circumstantial, it was not the want elections because it was correlation of youth what determined very confused and there was too the broad impulse of social protests. much tension. The audios from Baldizón were coming out and it The interviewee also spoke about was too much. And the 173
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collective's stance was that each She explained that the movement who defends his position because was created with three or four initial we never came to an agreement people who presented the proposal and that was one of the first things to do a National Stoppage to the that we agreed at that time that Assembly of "La Plaza" groups that when we couldn't decide gathered in the Red House of the something we would not assume Historic Center from Guatemala. In any position in favor or against, that Assembly, the managers since which is also a posture in articulated them with other groups certain cases (Wer, 2019). that also had small actions and they decided to put the name of c) Brenda Lara from Hagámonos El Paro. Hagámonos El Paro Soon, they began to receive external attacks for this "threat of “They told me: a strike? ¡are you stoppage", since the media crazy! There is not an presented it as a violent act that articulation for that” could happen and that according
with the organizers, it would not be “That we had all the collectives. like that. Even legal protection from They didn’t want that protests CACIF arrived, death threats on got out Saturdays afternoon. It is social networks, etc. not possible to lift up more than In her words: what we allow ourselves to lift up, that was the lecture that I did One of the members of "groups about the attitude of the groups youth ”and that had a link with us, that were leading the call” (Lara, sent me to say there was an 2019) injunction, that were taking legal action against me for having been In the long dialogue held with Brenda the face of the movement. It was Lara the interviewee detailed Sunday and the strike would be on experiences of the group that formed Thursday. So then we had to Hagámonos El Paro, as well as her change the idea because we participation in the protests of 2015, knew that anyway we didn´t have her experiences, triumphs and the joint that they were watching, disappointments experienced.
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something demonized at once. that division that started arise was Then it would be a poll. Yes, when the reforms were coming to somehow the traffic was slow the LEPP, which was the anyway and we wanted to take Stoppage slogan. It was very into account the opinion of those difficult to convince the Rector to who were not in La Plaza (Lara, agreed to take out San Carlos 2019). University, which was the bigger force then (Lara, 2019). The National Stoppage would not come until later months, but from Some of the main positions of Lara her point of view it was something were that the departure of Otto Pérez manipulated and not directly Molina and Roxana Baldetti were not articulated by this original group enough for Guatemala in 2015, for nor with the same intentions. which she was questioned what they When I was questioned about the had to do? What did the country need exact moment of disarticulation or at that time? separation of interests from others collectives, she stated that at the She claimed that the proposal was to beginning they all agreed with the make a provisional government, not a same demands. In their words transitional one, but agreed by an "when the situation was just "to do Assembly where representatives will a little noise." When serious be invited of each sector. Even from slogans have already been taken CACIF, such as the Platform of the we were disagree”(Lara, 2019). San Carlos, but in a formal level. “A space where were most of the sectors Lara considers that many groups who represented, choose a provisional participated in the peaceful protests government of all sectors not only ones pushed the reforms to the LEPP from CACIF and make the reforms —which was the priority at the time necessary to have a legitimate and the beginning of all this with process with real proposals, not of CICIG. Also deduces that: joke ”(Lara, 2019).
The Platform for reform from the About the generational character of USAC State that gathered in the protests Lara considers that La Plaza Auditorium was such a show for was not directly driven by young and the organizers, because for us it that the slogan «they got with the was something seriously […] wrong generation » it was something
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Politics and Society Magazine – Research Reports – 2019 d) Bachelor. Luis Velásquez, built, something note even was it Political Science Student, own and it was only used to 2015 legitimize the protest as something
youth. In her words: “Not even a crisis as the one of 2015 can be a new start of the "I realized that there were many organizations not listed. whole authoritarian and But they work a lot, they are in conservative culture” Permanent Assembly, and they do not be fooled. It is so that He claimed that generally is that a leader told me «we did considered as part of the student
not enter to the stoppage, movement in 2015 but really he did because that is organized by the Embassy ». And I said not have such a visible role until the "please come in." And they end of 2015 and during 2016 (in 2015 denied. They are organizations he participated in the student that were outside just watching movement Acción Crítica). and laughing, surely from everyone because they have His participation occurs for first time decades experiences and as part of the School of Political ancestral wisdom […] ”(Lara, 2019) Science when he came out to the mobilizations "close to May 22nd
movement that never took strength,
structure nor division of functions, it The leaders were bigger, youths just was an idea and was led by were used. Why? Precisely Carlos Bianchi and then had two or because of the reason we were three meetings with Mario Roberto talking. Young people don't bring Morales who gave his impression of convictions, ideologies, they don´t the demonstrations in the framework have nothing as a background. Then it is lie, it is a slogan, it is only a photo that media started to "A causal relationship arises reproduce so that all people will between 2015 and the recovery of the AEU but in any case it is appropriate it and only a few did. not an embryonic moment. We We don't take it into account didn't say let's use the social (Lara, 2019). protests to recover the AEU, but that occurs on the way. It is kind of cause and effect."
(Velásquez, 2019)
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of the "Alianza para la Prosperidad ” ultimatum to the president, (Velásquez, 2019). practically from day one, it was said let´s do a national stoppage However, he doesn´t consider that it and there were many rumors, was an important organization nor but practically it finally arises visible in matters of La Plaza, not from the impudence of the last even within the movement Pérez Molina´s conference sancarlista. Previously they linked press of national chain where he more to the work of Usac Es Pueblo says that he will not resign, that and the General Coordinator of was a fortuitous event to University Students (CEUG- by its provoke the stoppage Spanish initials) as Representative (Velásquez, 2019). of Acción Crítica. He find it very valuable that people, He considers 2015 to be a spontaneously, decided to take a day watershed of the repositioning of the to not attend work and provoke that social movements, especially the those who organize the economic student, indigenous and peasant activity of the country had to back off ones, whose agenda had been on a decision already taken from not primarily structural before supporting the National Stoppage, and conjectural demands represented by decided to join. urban social organizations with presence in networks that, until "The most paradigmatic of the today, have continued their work as year 2015 is the National Justicia Ya, CEUG and many of Stoppage. Let them know that those groups already participate in those who exercise power that political parties. from time to time they have to turn to see people because Questioned about the most someday they may lose their hegemony. And the multiple important political event of the year stops of local businesses that 2015, Velásquez attributes it to the day no was the United States National Stoppage from August 27, calling them to tell them to stop, 2015: but it was a genuine way of not participating ”.(Velásquez, Because they had been 2019) talking a lot of stop the He Considers that the actors of La country, to give it an Plaza were Justicia Ya, Usac Es
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e) Brenda Hernández and Pueblo, La Batucada del Pueblo, Isabel Saravia CEUG and civil society organizations representatives of La like the Myrna Mack Foundation, the Batucada del Pueblo chapter of International Transparency called Acción Ciudadana, and the “Let the CICIG stay, Christian democrats who reinterpreted thieves go to jail” their role within the political system. In the interview with the Also he considered crucial the social representatives from La Batucada del activity in other departments as in Pueblo, both explained what was the Quetzaltenango for example. And Voz, process of forming this organization. in Antigua Guatemala, where the "No They detailed what emerged from a Te Toca" was born. call inside social networks with other Finally, when reflecting on the historical urban movements that already had lessons left by events of 2015 to an antecedent, from actions of Guatemalans and politicians he performance and poetry reading that considers that: emerge since the end of 2012 and during 2013. Politicians can no longer be so shameless, Guatemalan society were With this group of poets, artists, implemented a conviction that you have academics with whom they had to start with sanitation of the state and previous participation, arises an maybe we don't have even a reformist immediate call for the Monday after structural thought, but there is a notion the 16th April where the scandal that nothing can change if you don't news arises. start with cleaning and politicians Brenda Hernández detailed: learned to be careful […]. It is possible that in the polls will be reflected some That Monday at noon we join, all changes in political culture, although it is these people we met around 50 difficult, because nor such as an people, and also with a group of important crisis like 2015 can do a CCDA who were already in the new start of all an authoritarian and National Palace off to the side conservative culture (Velásquez, 2019). they were doing other types of demands that had to do with their historical struggles of problems of land. So that for us
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meant something very particular because of his working hours, they because obviously there was a could join us, and began to position fusion of historical demands slogans. they have to do with structural About the positioning of slogans they problems from Guatemala, like detailed that they were changing from with these specific conjectural demands, which is from the week to week. Some slogans were gathered even before the protests of presence of CICIG and our saturdays and agreed what would they urban struggles (Hernández and Saravia, 2019). be using according to the conjuncture of the week and upon arrival at La Plaza and they had the elaborate “The next day other young were integrated, and came to slogan: “also in the process of saying
us other utensils of the task: a the slogan is improving, they are plastic bowl those to wash changing, they are polished so that clothes was ours first kind of ... rhyme, or impact, because the idea is drum, and another young man who came up with a kind of precisely, to permeate the imaginary metal thermos and with that we and impact it, be able to synthesize
started to generating some and that have political content” rhythms. Wednesday night we (Hernández and Saravia, 2019). had the slogan «Baldetti, You bastard, you are a thief. AND They also claimed that they tried to already for Thursday one of: "Fight against monopoly monster of «Otto… you're going to go to prison ».” (Hernández & communication ”that according them Saravia, 2019) exercise their perfect dictatorship
function which is why they think it was
a challenge to synthesize in a couple Both interviewees detailed that from of words the political content that the the first day they decided to participate conjuncture demanded, and it was a in the protests they took kitchen challenge that "ordinary people get utensils and that started to make some of the message. ” Likewise, they noise. On that day they decided they detailed that there were slogans that would do noise every day throughout even emerged from the same people the week, both in the half a day as in who came with their posters to La the late afternoon, to coincide with the Plaza. people who,
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About specific slogans such as "In Finally they pointed out: these conditions we do not want elections »detailed that this was a I hold management phrase that emerged in La Cuerda, accountable of the University of the feminist newspaper: San Carlos de Guatemala in that moment, to the rector for There were the persons, arriving to not have had the arrests that the conclusion that this was a history demanded to held the disgrace. And one of the companions who were also one of platform of state reform. To the original members in La have thrown that overboard at Batucada with another person was such a critical moment, so playing with words and it was necessary for history of the transferred: «In these conditions we country, contributed to deepen don't want elections », which was the crisis and bring us to that welcomed by them because it was cliff of elections from 2015 that actually their feel, and it was have us in these conditions. positioned (Hernández and Saravia, That's very unfortunate 2019). (Hernández and Saravia, 2019).
"From day one, I pulled a f) Carlos Bianchi, Political frying pan and that started Science School Student, doing a little noise. In that day we decided what we were 2015 going to do noise every day “I woke up with the idea of for all week both at noon and saying no, we have to do in the late afternoon by the people who worked. The first something” slogan that I remember In his interview he related how he saying something like: "Let was carried out his participation the CICIG stay, thieves go to from the School of Political Science jail” (Hernández and Saravia, 2019). of the University Of San Carlos De Guatemala, how the first questions arose to the authenticity of the movement, how "suspicions" arose that the sancarlista and national
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movement had been co-opted. were History and others, but Finally, he related the disenchantment what was our surprise that when that they would not achieved nothing everyone arrived in front of beyond the resignation of both rulers. rectory there was a poster up front that said "Usac Es Pueblo" He explained that his participation and from that moment was spontaneously, almost Guatemalan journalism took it like immediately when the case was that all of us who came behind announced La Linea and his wish was were UEP and it was a lie to bring the School of Political Science because they took over, it was a together as one to come out to group of ten people probably demonstrate. He considers that at the (Bianchi, 2019). end they achieved concatenate aspects and key factors regarding the To this experience at the University de participation of the School. One of San Carlos adds the following: them was the set of support points they had, at that time the Association In that attempt to democratize of Students, and Dr. Marcio Palacios. UEP we talk to leaders. I They managed to get out to the first particularly spoke several times demonstration which, from his point of with Mynor Alonzo. He invited me view, was taken. "This movement here several times to tell me why I called Usac Es Pueblo (UEP) took an didn´t trusted him, and I said it initiative that wasn't his, that's why it didn´t was that I didn't trust him, was from the beginning delegitimized” but I considered the issue was to (Bianchi, 2019). democratize it, and they never opened it, that's why at the end it He claimed that many people in the failure and even they were out of University tried to democratize that all that process of AEU change movement and that there are (Bianchi, 2019). testimonies of that: In the achievements he affirms who What emerge were units rising managed to go out to the academics, as ECP, genuinely demonstrations representing the that day because we didn't have Political Science School and on the communication before. But that other hand a request was made to the Saturday we were all ready and General Attorney and Head of the we started, and we saw there Public Ministry Thelma Aldana, that the
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last consequences would be reached On his prospects of La Plaza in with investigations. From his point of general, he considers that it was a view, "if there is a person that was not kind of “controlled chaos” handled in valued is the Dr. Mario Roberto every way. Something that was not Morales who had a spectacular hit, immediately perceived but that started like a drone he completely isolated spinning when they already himself and saw everything from participated and saw those dynamics. outside. He clearly said, like a In his words: "It hurts a lot, because prophet, what was going to happen, there are people that don’t see it, but that is absolutely nothing". what is there is a reconfiguration precisely of these power groups, "I remember the news and I woke up with the idea of among some group that hasn´t had saying "no, we have to do power within them, let´s call him something". So that day in the Dionysus Gutiérrez ”(Bianchi, 2019).
morning I came and told my Also he explained that there were colleagues: Look boys, we features of censorship coming from can't keep quiet that's impossible, we have to wake everywhere: “from the romantics who up". From there it starts an thought they have to do a inclination to participate. We "horizontalization" when we didn't
committed a series of errors, I even have organization” (Bianchi, was moving something, but I was not very consistent at the 2019). beginning. ”(Bianchi, 2019) Finally, he reflected on "the great winner of La Plaza”, considering that were these great foreign interests the He also considers that another biggest beneficiaries: achievements of the student movement overall were those I do not see in the internal what changes coming from the external could we win but they did that we were living from corruption because they have managed to and decanted in the change of the stabilize society in function to AEU, because many university their interests and there they are characters who participated involved in the same conflicts changed that situation which was a that we have today: CICIG, great contribution in that sense, Thelma Aldana, Sandra Torres, because people started to see and Jimmy Morales. These inside. situations to call attention 182 d From outrage to spectacle: la Plaza 2015
towards other things. Nobody "We live in deep moment of
talks about hospitals, schools, the systemic crisis and dispute
general insecurity of the lack of about the immediate future of
our country. La plaza leaves opportunities we have in this learning, confluences and
country (Bianchi, 2019). opportunities that should be
examined in the light of the last
three years and empower Academic Groups themselves. ” (Yagenova, 2019) a) M.Sc Simona Yagenova
“This type of "This type of One of them was the meeting that situation like convened on behalf of the Popular that of 2015 is not repeated in Assembly in the stadium that allowed the history of countries, are us to meet with everything ancestral. particular products of In her opinion, the delivery of the accumulation of outrage ... " flower and the Daniel Pascual's The interviewee emphasized on the speech were crucial events, a window meanings awarded to the event of La to historical memory and a student Plaza 2015. She stated that we movement of the seventies, of the should ask how La Plaza was indigenous people and historical possible, in its reading as imaginary memory of necessity. and as representation. At her opinion, On the other hand, the National it was about youth, urban middle Stoppage of 27 August seemed class and university students who essential. In addition, she points out made an occupation of public space that the social opposition to the initial so systematic. CACIF decision of not supporting the
strike was no small matter. They were From her perspectives, La Plaza is like 387 businesses that closed that encounters and disagreements, day. Encounter and disagreement, democratic efforts that converge on a that was perceived at the beginning ideal of society, where they among certain forces that wanted to participated left forces, business take La Plaza who didn't want the sector and other groups. speech, blankets and other forces who wanted a Plaza "politically more correct".
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From her point of view, La Plaza leaves be able to express themselves legacy, new urban organizational politically (Yagenova, 2019). experiences, leaves the way for another kind of politics and in that sense, invites On the other hand, she considers that young people who want to occupy a the social more traditional movements space. Also, leave the recovery of the started in 2015 with many more fears, AEU that although it is part of a process mistrust and lower expectations maybe that is coming from time of various ways from the other groups because it was it was enhanced with this situation. Also, extended what was behind. "Because it leaves the meeting among college was understood that it was a dispute students that form the CEUG where between capital factions and it was even the Francisco Marroquín very difficult with the strength they had, University participated, an event that for to take advantage of the conjuncture her was very significant. for other political things” (Yagenova, 2019). In her words: Reflecting on the historical lessons that It is very interesting to see what left this event, she considers that they left La Plaza in terms of weave gave a message to the dominant class urban social later when that in this country like an alert voice and a youth bursts in urban diverse. It warning. However: has for a side the collectives that arise in that crisis with The response of the dominant class resistance, with small but and its operators was the acceleration symbolic actions, has precisely of spurious rearrangements and the emergency of the group closure of spaces, including the Semilla, as a middle class of expulsion of the CICIG. It is not young progressives who see accidental, the protagonism that this crisis and they just rectify acquired the most radical expressions the needs to build a political on the right against human rights, the instrument from other logic, UN system, the CICIG, the pro-justice from a democratic left movement and subordination in the perspective. That is allowing international branch to the imperial the very slow reconstitution of policy of the USA. This throwback is more politicized urban auto not accidental, is the answer of those weaves with higher interests of who always have dominated this country when their privileges and 184 d From outrage to spectacle: la Plaza 2015
domination system are threatened. because in electoral season could (Yagenova, 2019). have been enhance in a better way everything that movement.
"La Plaza is to breaking into a average lower class that b) Dr. Mario Roberto Morales historically looked with a lot of prejudice mobilization. A middle class sheltered in their “ In 2015 Guatemala used survival economy, in their as a pilot plan for America social rise, a very alienated Latin, region in which middle class and alienated in destabilizes terms of forms of life and a states under the moralist motto middle class without referents neither political nor of the fight against progressive. ” (Yagenova, corruption" 2019) In his interview the academic presented the interpretation he has made to the political event in Another historical lessons that left the question of the first weeks of political event especially to the middle demonstration 2015, which for him it class was the need to re-politicize, the was not more than just implementing possibility to get up, fight more and something called La Plaza. Mario claim their vital and crucial role Roberto Morales dedicated several especially because it's the middle pages of reflection about this class the one that always have voted political process in different media, conservatively in favor of the military, both electronic and printed during ex military, or very conservative 2015 and the following months. political options . At the beginning of the interview Finally, she considered that La Plaza He explained that the political event could be taken to another place but most important of 2015 wasn´t the the electoral process cut it off, series of protests, but the causal redirected it, there were no political political event that triggered these consensus and use of the situation in protests and which in his point of 2015 and from there they fragmented view was the repeated arrival of perspectives and slogans. The Joe’s Biden in Guatemala, the Vice electoral issue, marked the situation President of United States at that and had negative consequences, time. "He came expressly to order
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Politics and Society Magazine – Research Reports – 2019 The Dictatorship of Democracy, he Pérez Molina to extend the CICIG's explained how to cause a soft coup mandate two more years […] and d’état to governments communists when Biden demanded to Pérez and soviets the moment. Molina, «he said no" (Morales 2019). Which, in his opinion, was "That's why my articles were refuted the trigger of the scenario of the 2015, because the revolution color is case la Línea and that would trigger a revolution for regimes disaffected to the rest of political events of that the United States and Pérez Molina year. was a CIA agent they said, here was a staging of the revolution combination "to have Awareness is not of color with the soft coup d'état ” enough to face everyone of the problems, and of course La (Morales, 2019). In this sense, Plaza did not provide it because Guatemala was used as a pilot plan there was no political formation, for Latin America, the region that there was nothing. I think it will destabilized states under the be history. And what made me moralistic slogan of the fight against feel sad was that people even in 2016 was already referring to corruption. And added: that process, to that past — immediate, of a few months The soft coup d´état is to tell to ago— with nostalgia no? With the president, we have nostalgia of old people. ” established a corruption case, (Morales, 2019) you decide whether we expose
it or if you do what we ask you According to the interpretation that to do. After that the coup d´état this academic has given to La Plaza, is done, whether if he leaves or this was about putting it practice in not, that's not their problem, or Guatemala of certain tactics of war when he leaves, but the coup is of the fifth generation which already done. That was put into practice had been implemented in the old here and it worked, it was a Soviet republics in 2000, which is success so three or four the tactic of the revolution of colors months then they applied it to combined with Soft coup d’état and Cristina Kirchner in Argentina with the fight against corruption. and after Dilma Rousseff in According to this interpretation, the Brazil, and they have tried to scheme of this strategy is due to apply it to Evo Morales in Gene Sharp who in his book Bolivia (Morales, 2019).
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Therefore, the academic considers electoral context and about the that the mobilizations of 2015 did not system of political parties in caused the resignation of Pérez Guatemala he explained that he Molina and that the color revolution considers that current politicians works to “legitimize” a coup and not to parties are part of a Democratic Party make it seem like it really is. And he of United States develops in highlights: Guatemala a geopolitical plan that divides interests of the local oligarchy This sounds like if I disqualify in politicians parties. He asserted: completely mobilizations and it is not like that. I know there Semilla is not exception, nor were very well intentioned convergence, nor any of them, people, people who believed well they lined up through the in that then they were International Cooperation — disappointed. People that because they are all "foes" – even took on those with the "Dionisist wing" of the mobilizations a level of oligarchy that represents the consciousness that they didn't interest of Obama, from the have, but it's a level of American arms industry. And consciousness quite small, in the others went with Trump who relation to what is needed to […] with that nationalism of become a political fighter Make America great again (Morales, 2019). wants to return to a certain Regarding the “historical lessons” that productive nationalism […] I´m left this political event of La Plaza he not saying that Trump is better stated that he is not sure how much than Obama or the other way can leave to the politicians in around, only you have to see Guatemala, since in the first place are the interests, and are such not politicians but operators of private interests that reflect in the interests and that, on the contrary, participation of oligarchy instead of learning a "historical (Morales, 2019). lesson" they took advantage of the event “feeding the version sweetened In such a way elections held in la Plaza like if that was the way Guatemala in 2019, from the ”(Morales, 2019). academic's interpretation was "The right against the right. The ultra-right, Finally, when reflecting on the expressed in all right traditional 187
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classical parties and the moderate zone" (I don't care what happens right represented by all the parties, in politics or society) and finally supposedly of the left ” (Morales, came out of very long reflux of 30 2019). years (Gutiérrez, 2019).
About the motivations that drove to c) M. Sc Édgar Gutiérrez overcome the “very long ebb of thirty “La Plaza 2015 was a necessary years” considers that: factor, but not enough”
The academic who made a “Plaza 2015 was able to launch government exercising its right to publication entitled the citizen plaza resistance for protection and actors and contexts of the political defense of their rights and crisis of 2015 as part of the Institute guarantees, recognized in the
of National Problems of the San article 45 of the Political Constitution of the Republic. The Carlos University (IPNUSAC by its central actors were civilians. Nor initials in spanish) exposed in the the military nor the police forces, interview made some reflections. how happened with other movements and inflections of Considers that the most important situations during our almost 200 political event of 2015 was the series years of republican history ". (Gutiérrez, 2019) of sustained mobilizations during
twenty consecutive weeks which culminated in late august, after which on September 2nd resigned the The spring that activated the President Otto Pérez Molina. Since outrage and mobilization of his point of view such mobilizations re society was the cynicism of the cover indispensable legitimacy to the rulers of their corrupt work of the MP and CICIG directed to businesses, in particular the dismantle illicit political, economic episode of the “magic water” networks and they also had the (lake of Amatitlán) that characteristic of being spontaneous, promoted at that moment vice self-convened, unstructured neither president Roxana Baldetti organizational nor political program. (Gutiérrez, 2019).
Mobilizations of heterogeneous sectors of
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He considers that his viability was magistrates and behind the scenes also his limitation. Except small some business chambers, like the organizations that emerged after one of Commerce, and the embassy the mobilizations, the most were from the USA. dissolved, returning to their routine. "La Plaza 2015 was the necessary factor, but not enough. In mid-2016, after unveiling the State Without withdrawal support of Cooptation case and others that Washington to Otto Pérez his happened, implicating directly to government does not fall. It was synergy, because without Plaza powerful entrepreneurs in illicit 2015 the mandate of CICIG financing elections campaign, tax would not have been renewed, evasion and tax avoidance, among and without Plaza or renewal the
others, the previously unified society withdrawal of the support of began to divide, confront, to the Washington […] would not have occurred” (Gutiérrez, 2019) point of generating a polarization
that was not observed in much time. On this last aspect, it is interesting to Regarding the generational issue and see how other interviewees coincide the slogan «They messed with the in seeing guatemalan society post- wrong generation »he considers that 2016 is divided and polarized, just the rest was “the expressed claim with as M.Sc Gloria Álvarez considered it courage and dignity of young people, in her interview. children of the fear generation, On the question, who were the suffering from the repressions of actors of La Plaza 2015? He 1980s […] the generation 2015 is the considers that mainly civil society one that has taken the longest to react unorganized with social groups like to change the politician regime Justicia Ya, the Platform for the ”(Gutiérrez, 2019). Reform of the State led by Usac, Finally, Gutiérrez considered that la Ceug, and social Assembly and Plaza was relevant as a point of popular (ASP by its initials in inflection of social mobilizations, but spanish), Semilla movement, substance was the issue of the State Somos, vos, la Batucada and others. of Law. Well from the articulation of the Not properly inside of the physical «Pact of Corrupts in 2017 »the fight space of la Plaza were MP, CICIG, against corruption, the independence independent judges and of judges, magistrates and 189
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Generators group of public opinion It's not that it's the wrong generation but the privileged generation. That, even so, a) M.Sc Gloria Álvarez they stayed shorts because "It is already forgotten we don't have root changes, protests anyone can do but what could be achieved deep proposals, requires in 2015” youth generation that study, to debate, to read, to propose In the interview with the political and that's where youth scientist and generator of public guatemalan stayed short." opinion it was reflected around (Álvarez, 2019) several questions, one of them about the meanings given to events of "La Plaza 2015". She considered protests: On the actors of la Plaza, she They came to raise a civil society claimed that there wasn´t such unit that was destroyed on protagonist. All in general were the January 7, 2016, that unity of a protagonists of this political process. single guatemalan society of The college students they did a great farmers, students and people of job. But she considers that it is all social kinds, from April to necessary to emphasize that the October was recreated and discussion tables were very valuable. destroyed on January 7, 2016, The tables of civil society between when CICIG - led by Iván students of the different houses of Velásquez— began to imprison studios, different organizations and military and "businessmen», And thinking tanks, they were a great there again society began to lesson "because there were many divide between the cold war, Guatemalans not only were to la right and left former guerrillas, Plaza but they sat to make proposals military sons and what could and, to their point of view they are have accomplished as a united
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cthe great actors, those who not only Lived at the time from Mao protested, but they proposed” Zedong. Guatemalan youth inside (Álvarez, 2019). everything they have always been free to express themselves and Regarding the slogan used "They for more that your speech bother messed with the wrong generation it don't end with your life »And from the consideration that (Álvarez, 2019). young people were the protagonists of Finally, we reflected on the the movement said: achievements of la plaza for Guatemala and how much can you It is very arrogant from part of think in a different country before young people to believe that movements of outrage. She considers they are the first looking for a that for the future of Guatemala change. All young people of all nothing was achieved since the year generations they want changes 2019 the country remains in the same […] Youth always are the ones situation: that get the worst part because I don't see any candidate that is they are part of a society that is proposing concrete things, that's the muscle and brain to demand why I took away my presidential and assert their rights. It seems application because it seems to me very arrogant from part of absurd that people who have youth that they believe that are possibility to go they remain the first to manifest (Álvarez, seated […] Jimmy won having the 2019). cheapest campaign, and I think that's the only long-term And she added: achievement that in the protest of la Plaza took shape, how we are
so outraged with corruption we Guatemalan youth have many will no spent so much money in advantages, they are not killing, advertising. Otherwise, we still they are not a prisoner, like having mediocre political parties Venezuela youth or Cuban without ideology, we don´t have youth, youth guatemalan didn´t candidates that become live communism as youth committed to anything specifically witnessed and the Chinese (Álvarez, 2019).
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b) Rodrigo Polo with all their heart, honesty, “I watched la plaza and I emotions and their sincerity went to didn´t go because it didn´t speak out against status quo, and convince me” it was good they did it at that time, pity that […] (Polo, 2019). In his interview, this generator of public opinion dedicated to production And he adds: of debate on social networks for And whether I like it or not Mario several years, he related how Roberto Morales saw it too— pragmatic perception was formed that who is from left. He said this is had and so far holds of la "Plaza not real, this does not obey. The 2015". He claimed that he wasn´t groups that were triggers: convinced that the series of Justicia Ya, Somos, Semilla, etc. demonstrations will mean a social They were being financed for an advance for Guatemala: “International Community”, very How did they put it? The "20S" I in quotes and were the agitators don´t remember the name. Of of discomfort, in that moment I which I did not participate, and I was just looking at them and went to oppose to reforms, but I how a lot of people were pulled, didn´t participate. And the reason Awesome! Wonderful! I admire was simple, they didn't convince the skill they had, how I admire me, they convinced to a lot of Cash Luna for move masses, it's people, ninety nine percent of not like I agree with him […] people who went to la plaza, they exploiting to get money, but it's did it with their heart in their hands not very different from who it was annoying and tired of a exploited la plaza. And that must political class abusive and corrupt. I be well clear (Polo, 2019) have absolutely no doubt of that; Polo also made other notes around many people went with their heart elections of 2015, and financing to la plaza. And that's why i keep investigations election of CICIG and quiet when it didn't convince me, MP. From his point of view: because I didn’t want to become an enemy of all people. People who,
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Ninety nine percent of people who went to la plaza, they did Lucrecia Hernández Mack in it with their heart in their Health, Julio Héctor Estrada in
hands it was annoying and Economics, Foppa in SAT (by
tired of a political class its Spanish initials, service of abusive and corrupt. I have absolutely no doubt of that; tax administration), Rivas in many people went with their governorate (Polo, 2019). heart to la plaza. And that's why i keep quiet when it didn't Finally, the interviewee reflected about
convince me, because I didn’t "the winners of la Plaza". He
want to become an enemy of Considers that economically it is sure all people. who got benefits, but if you consider that in Guatemala "There is a very strong pulse from many power It was supposed, in elections, in sectors, NGO groups, certain my perspective the report of business that is fragmented and many CICIG about financing of politics, it leaves to all parties as bad who see the Army like it's a great ones and all are corrupt except institution and it is not ”. UNE, they mention it in a paragraph in a corner at the end. c) M.Sc Phillip Chicola When you say UNE is a "Cynicism was personified" heavyweight why didn't they include UNE in the graphic? For In dialogue handled with the political me it is evident that they bet on scientist and generator of public UNE because they put a lot of opinion in different media, exposed emphasis on Patriota, Líder and what has been the interpretation that there was no other opponent for he has given to la Plaza 2015. He UNE. But the anti vote won, and explained that he has opted for a as Mario Roberto Morales said theoretical interpretation since "floated among everything" and interpretations given to the proposals they didn't expect it and they by Thomas Friedman in his book The were looking for wear it out, World is flat and Moisés Naím on the Morales's problem was that he concept of mobilizations 2.0: was not prepared for presidency and consults to the embassy With the information revolution, Who do we put? And the technology, communications what embassy prepares a cabinet: is causing is that all social
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relationships change and a other words, people who individually paradigmatic case is what feel upset with any expression from happens with citizen the social system and they come out mobilizations, the protests, from the street as disorganized revolutions. What both authors individuals, without coordination, maintain is that power is being without articulation, without fragmenting and that all kind of leadership, to protest for something power (political, economic, that bothers them. religious, social) are no longer
macro expressions of small "We have to be very pragmatic actors with a lot of power but and break many of the idyllic micro expressions of a interpretations that were from la Plaza because I remember conglomerate of new actors who in 2016 there was all those have now ability to articulate interpretations of la Plaza is a themselves in ways never seen space of articulation, of ideas before (Chicola, 2019). and rejection. Its Lie tell me What came out of la Plaza? In that sense, protests of 2015 are an Nothing. It have no left me leaders, nor parties, it left me example that can fit in that spirit of a couple of weaker transformation media coverage and organizations every day […]
virtual. The example that Friedman ”(Chicola, 2019) outlines and Naim develops is the one of social mobilizations, stating that previously the social struggles Some examples: the outraged in were joints of traditional power Spain, the Arab spring, the generally summoned by an actor with demonstrations in Brazil and Chile for capacity of mobilization, speech, educational reforms, and in resources and very vertical. And that Guatemala for corruption, they fall in has been changing because the that characteristic of being revolution of technology, social media individualistic. In his interpretation, he has caused various scenarios where does not see to “La plaza” as a group, demonstrations have no longer have but tens of thousands of individuals vertical feature but stopped being who were upset with corruption, the called by a leader, by an organization, collapse of educational systems and and they turned in expressions of sets health and in general with politicians of individuals, like the arab spring. In generating personal wealth.
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From this interpretation, for the But there were those who said interviewed "La plaza" constitutes a Baldetti has to resign, others space of individualized manifestation, who said that Baldetti and Otto where outrage was personified in the Pérez have to resign, others vice presidential figure, then who said Baldetti, Otto Pérez transmute to Pérez Molina, which and the deputies have to resign, came to represent rejection to the others said that courts, others entire political system. When from said you have to finish the equation is subtracted both mandatory oppressive capitalist model, leaders and there is no a others said to carry Joviel personification of rejection the protest Acevedo in jail, others who said dissolves. For example, Jimmy change the Board of Directors of Morales has high levels of rejection, Architects College (Chicola, even more than Baldetti and Otto 2019). Pérez, but he does not personify all that rejection that they represented. He considered that in the That explains why the processes are demonstrations were people of the left, not the same nor before or after. right, others under the idea that a gap was being opening so the entire When questioned about whether the system imploded and that we lived a mobilizations from 2015 responded revolution within social structures. I mostly to emotional aspects than to mean, inside from “La plaza” there ideological aspects he considers were conservative visions, reformists, which was due to emotional aspects. leftists, revolutionary, holistic, concrete, In his words: etc. From your ideology point of view Wanting to give la Plaza an there was nothing but an emotion that ideological characteristic is wrong united the outrage against the system because, there wasn't. So easy as and everyone understood it from go to see the first demonstrations different perspectives and interests. and where basically the slogan was This adds to interpretation of emotional: fight against corruption. individualistic manifestations. If there wasn't even a unifying slogan.
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d) M.Sc Martín Rodríguez they stayed stunned after seeing
all their idols and references in “La plaza is the physical space from which prison. And like those who have citizens appropriated of it had the power are the and in conservatives, the amount of which citizens converged progressives who also are and social organizations to detained did not cause the demand a change to the movement and progressive corruption and impunity shame (Rodríguez, 2019). system” And he adds: The interviewee considers that the most important political event was the It seems to me that it is very arrest against Otto Pérez Molina by the ideological - in the best sense of MP and the CICIG, despite opposition the word ideological— leadership from the economic elite and from the of «spring under construction ». It embassy of United States. And social seems to me that since there is a pressure, to take away the right of flag of rainbow in the prejudice to Pérez Molina, which demonstrations or that they are allowed his judicial prosecution and his looking for impunity for the past, fall. present, to include the feminism issue is an ideological positive When questioned about the burden and I don't think that be an mobilizations from 2015 most of them anti-ideological movement or responded to emotional aspects that to emotional especially since 2016 ideological aspects he considers it was (Rodríguez, 2019). quite ideological. To me it seems that the most In 2015 conservatives and important event was the arrest progressives joined but the against Otto Pérez Molina by the MP and the CICIG, despite vanguard was at that time and it's opposition from the economic progressive. So who continue to elite and from the embassy of lead the baton and leadership of United States. And social the debate are the progressives pressure, to take away the right because conservatives with the of prejudice to Pérez Molina, which allowed his judicial exception of Philip Chicola, Daniel prosecution and his fall. Haering, before Quique Godoy, (Rodríguez, 2019)
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On historical lessons that left la Plaza However, he considers that corrupt for society and politicians of the political class hasn't learned from the country he claimed that politicians historical lesson because they are know now that they can have a also innately corrupt and they don´t counterweight from citizenship, civil have willpower nor the possibility of society and social organizations. In redemption. The only ones who had it his words "this feeling of power, by at the beginning were those of UNE in citizenry, the town is not going to 2016 and then they quickly came back escape, they will not forget and it will to the corruption and impunity not leave the imaginary in a long time establishment, where they feel at least in a couple of generations. " comfortable and then it seems like they have not learned the lesson
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Chapter IV
Chronology and corruption cases presented in 2015
Table Number 4 Chronology of the situations of April 16th to September 6th of 2015 in Guatemala
Date Event The International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG by its initials in spanish) and the Public Ministry (MP by its initials in spanish) revealed to public opinion the case of corruption denominated as The Line (la april 16th línea, in spanish), where the private Secretary of the Vice President was involved, Juan Carlos Monzón, in complicity with both leaders. Monzón is a fugitive at that time.
Roxana Baldetti, from a press conference at the National Palace where she dissociate herself from all the accusations of the case “La Línea”. Alejandro april 19th Sinibaldi, former Minister of Communications of the Government of the turn, resigns as a candidate of the Patriot Party and denounces sabotage from Roxana Baldetti. The #RenunciaYA movement creates a call for a peaceful demonstration on Facebook for Saturday April 25, which becomes very popular in a few hours. april 23rd At a press conference after receiving harsh criticism President Otto Pérez Molina, along with Vice President Roxana Baldetti, he announced that he will request to United Nations the extension of CICIG's mandate. The first demonstration is held in the Constitution Plaza to demand the resignation of Vice President Roxana Baldetti, and against the corruption of april 25th the government in office. Approximately 15 thousand people attend and it is done under the slogans of #RenunciaYa. In social networks the #RenunciaYa hashtag reaches 41 thousand mentions. On May 1st the initiative called Cadenas por la Libertad they approached to may 1st the National Palace of Culture to chain themselves at the gates and demand and 2nd the resignation of the presidential binomial. On May 2nd, a second peaceful demonstration is held in the Constitution Plaza, which is also attended by thousands of people, but not as in the previous protest. Roxana Baldetti resigns now The Constitutional Court denies the protection presented by Roxana Baldetti may 8th to revoke the resolution of the Supreme Court of Justice, which gave the process for the preliminary hearing presented by three political parties. At a press conference Otto Pérez Molina announces that the vice president Roxana Baldetti resigned from her position.
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Date Event In an extraordinary session, amid a wave of protests in the afternoon of that may 9th day, the plenary of the Congress accepted the resignation of Roxana Baldetti with 149 votes in favor. That same day the MP requested an arraigo order of the former vice president. Alejandro Maldonado, until now Magistrate of the Constitutional Court, assumes as vice president, after being elected by the Congress of the may 14th republic. The University Student Coordinator of Guatemala (CEUG by its initials in spanish) organizes an assembly in the facilities of the Rafael Landívar University to agree on the requests they will make on May 16.
may 15th The Minister of Energy and Mines, Erick Archila, resigns, claiming to have been subject to blackmail and political persecution by the LIDER party. Another massive peaceful demonstration is held in la Plaza de la Constitución, which is estimated to have attended 60,000 people to demand the resignation of the President Otto Pérez Molina, using the slogans # RenuncienYaFase2 and # 16M. May Likewise, the cities of Zacapa, La Antigua, Xela, Huehuetenango, 16th Chimaltenango, Sololá, San Marcos and Santa Cruz of Quiché, and Guatemalans residing in other countries are added.
The CICIG and the MP reveal the “IGSS-PISA” Case, capturing the entire Board of directors from social insurance , made up of 17 people, including the president from such institution Juan de Dios Rodríguez and the President of may 20th the Central Bank Julio Suárez . The arrests according to the Special Prosecutor's Office against the Impunity of the MP were for anomalous contracts that the directive of the Social Insurance endorsed, among them is the controversial contract signed with the Pisa Drugstore and the IGSS. The first members of Otto Pérez Molina's Cabinet resigned: -Mauricio López Bonilla, Ministry of the Interior may 21st -Ulises Anzueto, from the Secretary of State for Intelligence -Michelle Martínez, Ministry of the Environment -Eddy Juárez, vice minister of Security - Edwin Rodas, Minister of Energy and Mines The sixth week of massive peaceful protests is achieved. It is done another demonstration in Constitución Plaza 18 hours, participated indigenous may 30th people, university students, families, artists, religious, etc. Representatives from different departments came together virtually and people living abroad. Under the slogans "President, resign for dignity now”, “#NoMásCorrupción”, “Otto Pérez, Guatemala does not want you”and“#OttoTeToca”. Ivanova Ancheta, presented her resignation as Vice Minister of Development Sustainable of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM, by its initials in june 1st spanish), which remains with a single Vice Minister in charge.
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Fecha Suceso The Secretary General of the Presidency Gustavo Martínez resigns, son in law of Otto Pérez Molina, resigned his position, arguing that he did not want June 2nd wear down the Guatemalan government. Labor Minister Carlos Contreras resigns to assume the Presidency of the June 4th IGSS. Obstructions are carried out in seven points of the capital city, organized apparently by Alianza Obrero Campesina, a new organization so far, and which claimed the investigation of the entrepreneurs involved in corruption June 5th cases. One more week of peaceful demonstration in Constitution Plaza, people demanding the resignation of President Otto Pérez Molina, the rejection against Manuel Baldizón as presidential candidate, and the disagreement June 6th with the elections of September 6th. The Supreme Court of Justice processes the request for a preliminary June 10th judgment against Otto Pérez Molina. USAC es pueblo calls people to a demonstration this June 13 and demand the immediate Otto Pérez Molina resigns, they also requested to the Public Ministry and to the Judicial body the streamlining of the investigation June 11th processes against the designated corrupt officials. An Assembly of the Q’eqchi ’, Poqomchi´, Achi´ and mestizo peoples is held in Cobán Alta Verapaz. Approximately 300 people participated discussing their participation in the Popular Assembly; they decided to join to the demands to ask for reforms to the electoral law and political parties, the postponement of the elections and the need to call the "Popular and June 12th Plurinational Constituent Assembly”. The eighth consecutive day of citizen demonstrations is carry out against corruption in the Constitution Plaza requesting again the resignation of Otto Pérez, that elections be postponed, and the reforms to the electoral law and political parties. It started very early with a group of at least two thousand people who held a prayer chain to ask for the peace of Guatemala and worthy authorities for the country. From one o'clock they started to gather dozens of people with posters, blankets, whistles, and a whole quantity of June 13th articles with slogans for the authorities from the country. In a ninth day of peaceful protests, the group Renuncia Ya calls to Constitution Plaza again, to demand the resignation of President Otto Pérez Molina, to repudiate the decision of the Court of Constitutionality for having stopped the work of the investigative commission that evaluated the withdrawal of immunity to the president. As well as request reforms to the Electoral and Political Parties Law, and serious investigations and measures June 20th to combat corruption in State Institutions.
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Date Event Peaceful demostrations are recorded in Cobán, the Q’eqchi ’, Poqomchi’ June 29th and Mestizo people, using the slogan "in these conditions we do not want elections ".
This tenth day of peaceful protests occurred at night, and simultaneously made several points in the country. It was summoned through two movements. The first of these ones was the ProtestArte movement, formed in turn by 9 more organizations, and convened people in the Constitution Plaza at 6 pm, heading to the United States Embassy to ask respect for July 4th independence and national sovereignty. The second of them was the Renuncia Ya movement, which convened at 7 pm in the Constitution Plaza zone 1, heading to the Constitution Plaza. It also was performed in Xela, Huehuetenango, Antigua, Cobán, Escuintla, Totonicapán, Sololá and San Marcos. Nets Case: The MP and CICIG revealed a new case of corruption in Guatemala. Which consists of three traffic of influence structures, illicit and corruption July 9th association, led by César Augusto Medina Farfán, along with Carlos Muñoz, Superintendent of SAT, the Zeta Gas Centro American company, and the Juguar Energy Guatemala Company. It is the twelfth day of protests, which request focused on the reforms to the July 11th Electoral Law. The influx of protesters was less, it started in the Constitution Plaza and moved to the outskirts of Congress of the Republic. July 16th CICIG publishes its report on the financing of political parties in Guatemala. Judge links Gustavo Martínez, son in law of the President and five more people, for being involved in the Nets Case. Martinez is pointed out having July 17th participation as a political operator to benefit the company Jaguar Energy, for whose negotiation the researchers consider that the former Secretary General of the Presidency may have obtained at least US $ 120 thousand. The thirteenth day of peaceful protests against corruption and impunity in the government and political parties are carried out. To this demonstration various social organizations, citizens and groups attend national musicals. It July 18th was convened by the ProtesArte group. the request is intensify request for the postponement of elections, 28 thousand signatures are gathered to deliver the petition to the Congress of the Republic. A new day of demonstrations called # 25J is held. This time is summoned by a religious prayer group in the morning and by Justicia Ya (formerly Renuncia July 25th Ya) in the afternoon. It is done both in the capital city as in the departmental capitals of Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, Escuintla and Alta Verapaz, and small peaceful protests in the United States and Spain.
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Date Event Another day of demonstrations. It starts in front of the Palacio Nacional de Cultura and then is moved to the Congress of the Republic. It has little influx, August approximately 300 people. Lawsuits range from anti-corruption rejection until 8th the rejection of the "ecocide" that occurred in Petén, likewise they requested not to hold the elections. 17 days of peaceful demonstration are celebrated. A Few citizens are recorded in the demonstration of Constitution Plaza, under conditions of rain. August They requested the resignation of Pérez Molina and rejected the form in 15th which the deputies voted not to withdraw the immunity to the president. They requested the cancellation of the LIDER Party, and they were opposed to hold Genera Elections. The MP and CICIG published new evidence in the case of “La Línea”, which August placed Baldetti and Pérez Molina at the head of the structure of customs 21st fraud. Baldetti was arrested that same day. The popular clamor of rejection of the presidency increased and produced the resignation from several senior officials a day later. Resignation of the last members of Otto Pérez Molina's cabinet Minister of Education Cynthia del Águila, Minister of Economy Sergio de la Torre, Presidential Commissioner for Competitiveness and Investment, Juan August Paiz: Claudia del Águila, Vice Minister of Investment and Competitiveness; 22nd Sigfrido Lee, deputy minister in charge of Small and Medium Enterprises; Maria Luisa Flores, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, and Marco Antonio Gutiérrez, administrative vice minister of Public Finance; Adela Camacho from the Police Reform Commission. Otto Pérez Molina transmitted a recorded message, on a national network, August where he warned that he was not willing to resign and where he summoned 24th to “deep Guatemala” to support him. The reactions of rejection were immediate. Social networks were filled with the label #YoNoTengoPresidente. The business sector issues emitted a stance before the National Stoppage The Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations August (CACIF, by its initials in spanish) published a resounding opposition 25th statement to the National Stoppage of August 27th and announced that the Constitutional Court granted them provisional protection with which the President is apprehended to comply with the constitutional rights of locomotion, access to health, peace and freedom.
August After that Roxana Baldetti was linked to the process and was sent to women's 26th preventive prison of Santa Teresa, the General Office of Nation and the General Comptroller of Accounts publicly exhorted the President to resign.
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Date Event
National Stoppage It was called by social networks, and thousands of people joined between them students, August teachers, schools, markets, shops, large and small national companies and 27th business chambers, who stopped all their regular activities and some of them decided to go out to demonstrate. It is estimated that more than 300 businesses in the capital city closed that day. and almost 100 thousand people went to the streets to demand the resignation of Pérez Molina.
Removal of President immunity With 132 votes in favor, Congress agrees to remove the immunity of the President Otto Pérez Molina, Septembe thus opening the door for the MP and the CICIG to investigate him for his r 1st alleged participation in the fraud network called The Line. Demonstrations are held in different parts of the country and in front of Congress of the Republic, by different social organizations, both in favor as against the removal of immunity of the President.
Septembe r 2nd One day after losing immunity Otto Pérez Molina presented his resigns from Congress at about 11:30 p.m. on September 2. SeptembeGeneral Elections are held, the eighth consecutive democratic election, from r 6th Guatemala.
Source:. IIPS, Area of Political Studies, 2019, based on electronic news. Note: the situation or situational phase is recognized from April 16, 2015 to September 6,from the same year, on the occasion of the celebration of the first electoral round. This last date is considered as the closure of the possibilities of a change, to the extent that the "exit" from the crisis had an institutional solution, within the legal framework, following the established procedures.
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Image Number. 5 Corruption Cases presented by the CICIG and the MP among 2015 y 2016
Corruption cases presented by the CICIG and the MP among 2015 and 2016
Case the Line Case of Judge Carol Flores Case of Law Office of Impunity Case IGSS-PISA (by its initial in Spanish) Case Patrolls Case Ghost Spaces (Pedro Muadi) Case Former Deputy Mario Yanes Guerra Case Former Deputy Mario Rivera Cabrera Case Former Deputy Mirza Arreaga Case Former Deputy Luis Chávez Case Nets Case Money Laundering and Politics Case Drogs, Money and Local Power Case Amatitlán’s Lake Case impunity and fraud: a net of corruption in the SAT (by its initials in Spanish) Case Traders of health Case TCQ Case Ghost Spaces (Members of the Board of Directors 2014-2015)
Case Coopting of the State Case La Cooperacha Case The State as Bulletin: General Registry Office
Source: IIPS, Area of Political Studies, 2019 based on a list of cases from: https: //www.cicig.org / cases-listing /
Note: the main cases of corruption exposed by the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and the Public Prosecutor's Office Against Impunity (FECI)..
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Final Reflections
With some distance, the reader will agreements of Peace in 1996. It is remember events of wide political not less that unfortunate to recognize significance in the history of that the democracy in Guatemala has Guatemala. The 1982 coup d'état, the had very limited ranges, which are formation of a National Assembly reduced to the election procedures of Constituent who drafted the authorities by popular vote without constitutional body in force to date, as forgetting, of course, the principles well also, the self-coup of state in that give coherence to the republican 1993, "the serranazo". Along with order, the referendum and plebiscite, others recent political events, the rarely applied. Democracy in aforementioned events highlight that Guatemala is thus a relatively recent democracy is a process in continuous that does not ends of establish itself construction, which legitimacy rests as a social relationship. Is a set of on the ideal of transform into the form procedural legal guidelines, more of government to mitigate social than a practice of every day at disparities. Far from it, that utopia different social levels. seems blur the Guatemalan ideal, as the media denounce and document For explaining to the mayors and scandalous acts of corruption, as if limitations of democracy, the social the lack of meritocracy public sciences traditionally have drawn administration were by itself, a trifle. various explanations, which can be grouped into two aspects: those who In this context, we need to highlight consider it an end in itself and those that the democratic consolidation who visualize it as a means. Today discourse has lagged behind we are aware that to make possible regarding voices demanding democracy, you need to put it in a transparency and fight against legitimizing dimension that, of course, corruption, a situation that became is not restricted to the electoral more apparent after signing the event. That legitimizing
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Politics and Society Magazine – Research Reports – 2019 dimension supports a permanent exchange opinions —even emotions search for meaning, that appeals to — practically immediately. This rights such as locomotion or request, places us in a situation in which which are as basic as the right to free subjectivity and emotions achieve emission of thought. symbolic spaces of expression, In the events of “La plaza” it was able beyond traditional collective actions, to carry out a consensus regarding the which involve the taking of real resignation of Baldetti and Pérez. Who estate, streets or squares. "The participated in the collective actions citizen plaza 2015”must be they found support in people that interpreted, as well as another way didn't do it and they just wanted to to put politics into play and mobilize through the cities, where emotionality to the degree that, to social networks charged a highly this day, no collective action could relevant role. Probably for this reason do without the social networks. various analysts, with a certain Although the studies that related life amount of ingenuity, evoke 2015 as with political conduct they found a the end of citizen apathy or awakening clear antecedent in the three of a conscience, visible not only in the fundamental concepts of Foucault, streets but on the internet and their biopolitics, biopower and many various meanings of governmentality, in recent years the dissemination of thought. The truth of gaze of the social sciences they the case is that each one adopted “La have been directed towards plaza” as part of its "biographical emotional motivations and affective space", which allowed the that make sense to human activity. construction of itineraries and virtual Being as excellence an enabling memories. activity of common sense, politics And, when creating new ways of find possibilities in social networks of sociability and organization, social construction of identity, a space for networks favored construction of other deliberation and become aware. identities, real and imagined ones. As This is not reduced in any case to a social phenomenon, networks the mere set of arguments: in reality, should be analyzed in your dimension social networks allow the formation of political discourse, offer the of ideological identities that are possibility to communicate and determining in material activity.
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From this vision, Archuf (2016) invites social engineering directed towards to reflect on subjectivity, emotions and the control and direction of the politics, through a proposal called community, either, we are witness and "Affective turn". Her concept starts in live in an authentic historical landmark the immersion of individuals in a world in a habituated country to silence and dominated by dominance of the oblivion in issues of national policy? media, concluding in the deep The truth of the case is that it was a influence that they exercise in public new show of Guatemalan politics, and, particularly in the formation of articulated around of basic rules: 1) political identities. Part of what came a social corpus with some into play in the collective imaginary in coherence, exhibited throughout the 2015 was what kind of responsibility media, fetishized as an object of would assume citizenship before desire: "La plaza" as a social, political excesses, cynicism and imaginary struggle, political myth the megalomania. flip side of historical passive Being these conditions are the basis citizenship. 2) A remote hearing of the outrage of that urban middle articulated through the internet class who appropriated from the where it was allowed political streets of the Historic Center of voyeurism by using social networks. Guatemala City and other places of 3) A show media that summons the similar characteristics in different viewer to be subject and object, departments (what is usually called spectator and protagonist. A real “citizenship”), between April 25 and entertainment, as well as imaginary, August 27 we attended to the which gave way to experimentation elaboration of a social institution: the in unison to hope, vertigo and construction from a civic self that tragedy. Hyperreal. A media circus questioned the authority (political whose irony outcome was the imago). Or at least that was the choice of a comedian as president objective pursued. Does it was about of the Republic. the application of technologies of
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It is not avoidable that the fact that strategy. The coming generations fights against corruption has been a have the challenge of building medical reference that has achieved common sense and learn to unit of volunteers. Reference that, at distinguish legitimate struggles of the same time, has subtracted the sophisticated manipulation. May importance to substantive issues, the events of 2015 serve, more particularly inequality, poverty or than myth, as a kind of political racism, aspects that must form the pedagogy, susceptible to critical main part of a national development appropriation.
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Gutiérrez, E. (2016). La Plaza ciudadana: Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala actores y contextos de la crisis polí- (2002). Foro Guatemala. Informe de tica de 2015. Guatemala: IPNUSAC. actividades 2001-2002. Guatemala: División de Publicidad e Información, Le Brun, A. (2004). Del exceso de rea- USAC. lidad. México: Fondo de Cultura Zepeda, R. (2000). La coyuntura de 1999. Económica. Situaciones y procesos políticos relevantes. Guatemala: López, C. (1996). El ejército como princi- IIPS/DIGI/USAC. pal factor del actual Estado burgués oligárquico guatemalteco. Guate- E-grafía mala: DIGI/USAC. (15 de mayo de 2015). Renun- Peláez, O. (2001). Los empresarios orga- cia Erick Archila al cargo de minis- nizados, la economía y el Estado en tro de Energía y Minas. República. Guatemala. Guatemala: FLACSO. Recuperado de: http://republica. Reyes, M. (1998). Patrimonialismo y par- gt/2015/05/15/renuncia-erick-archi- ticipación: del control estatal a la la-al-cargo-de-ministro-de-energia- lucha de los pueblos, Guatemala y-minas/ 1970-1998. Guatemala: Facultad La- ______(03 de septiembre de 2015). Paso tinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales. a paso: los hechos que llevaron a Rouquié, A. (comp.) (1994). Las fuerzas la caída de Otto Pérez Molina. Soy políticas en América Central. Méxi- 502. Recuperado de: https://www. co: Fondo de Cultura Económica. soy502 .com/ articulo/ cronolo- gia- caida-otto-perez-molina Solórzano, M. (1984). Centroamérica: de- mocracias de fachada. En Revista (04 de septiembre de 2015. Mal- Polémica número 12. San José: Uni- donado Aguirre juró como pre- versidad de Costa Rica. sidente de Guatemala hasta 14 enero de 2016. Mercopress. Recu- Torres-Rivas, E. (2006) La piel de Centro- perado de: http://es.mercopress. américa (una visión epidérmica de com/2015/09/04/maldonado-agui- setenta y cinco años de su historia). rre-juro-como-presidente-de-guate- Guatemala: FLACSO. mala-hasta-14-enero-de-2016 Torres-Rivas, E. (2010). El Estado en Gua- temala: ¿orden con progreso? Álvarez, C. (13 de abril de 2016). Guatemala: Programa de Naciones Las fechas más importantes Unidas para el Desarrollo. del caso La Línea. Prensa Libre.
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Recuperado de https://www. Corporación Latinobarómetro (28 de oc- prensalibre.com/guatemala/ tubre de 2011). Informe 2011. Recu- justicia/a-un-ao-del-caso-la-linea perado de: http://www.infoamerica. org/primera/lb_2011.pdf Barreto, B. (26 de abril de 2015). El clamor de una manifestación: #Renuncia- Ghitis, F. (29 de diciembre de 2015). 9 Ya. Plaza Pública. Recuperado de: mujeres que cambiaron al mundo http://www.plazapublica.com.gt/ en 2015. Recuperado de: https://cn- content/el-clamor-de-una-manifes- nespanol.cnn.com/2015/12/29/9- tacion-renunciaya mujeres-que-cambiaron-al-mundo- Bautista, E. (2009). La investigación cuali- en-2015/ tativa y cuantitativa en trabajo social. Herrera, S. (2017). El diseño de la inves- Análisis y construcción de modelos tigación cualitativa. Dirección Ge- teóricos de tres casos prácticos en neral de Investigación DIGI-USAC. Trabajo Social. Revista de Trabajo Recuperado de: https://digi.usac. Social UNAM. (20), 53-71. Recupe- edu.gt/sitios/ues2017/UES2017/ rado de: http://revistas.unam.mx/ HerreraInvestCualitativaUES.pdf index.php/ents/issue/view/1627/ showToc Illescas, G. (27 de agosto de 2015). CA- CIF: Otro gran perdedor del Paro Cabria, E. (19 de abril de 2015). Se abre Nacional. Recuperado de: https:// el telón: Sinibaldi y Baldetti se di- cmiguate.org/cacif-otro-gran-per- vorcian. Se cierra el telón. Nómada. dedor-del-paro-nacional/ Recuperado de: https://nomada. gt/pais/se-abre-el-telon-sinibaldi- Palencia, S. (22 de mayo de 2015). La ma- y-baldetti-se-divorcian-se-cierra-el- nifestación del 16 de mayo. Previo, telon/ durante y análisis. Centro de Medios Cabria, E. (16 de mayo de 2015). La re- Independientes. Recuperado de: nuncia no basta (gritan 60,000 en https://cmiguate.org/la-manifesta- la #Marcha16M). Nómada. Recupe- cion-del-16-de-mayo-previo-duran- rado de: https://nomada.gt/pais/la- te-y-analisis/ renuncia-no-basta-gritan-60000-en- República. (01 de septiembre de 2015). la-marcha16m/ CACIF y CAMAGRO se oponen a Cámara del Agro Guatemala. (24 de protesta en Congreso y a bloqueos. agosto de 2015). Comunicado CA- Recuperado de: https://republica. CIF Paro Nacional. Recuperado de: gt/2015/09/01/cacif-y-camagro-se- https://issuu.com/camagro/docs/ oponen-a-protesta-en-congreso-y- comunicado_cacif_paro_nacional a-bloqueos/
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República. (25 de agosto de 2015). CC desigual. Recuperado de: http:// ampara al CACIF para garantizar li- paraisodesigual.gt/wp-content/ bre locomoción. Recuperado de: uploads/2019/02/Desigual- dad-y- https://republica.gt/2015/08/25/ Poder-en-Guatemala_Econo- mia- cc-ampara-al-cacif-para-garanti- de-Captura-en-Guatemala.pdf zar-libre-locomocion/ Interviews Sosa, A. (01 de septiembre de 2015). Las dos caras de Guatemala frente Alemán, C. (06 de marzo de 2019). De la a frente en protestas en Congreso. indignación al espectáculo: La plaza Recuperado de: https://www.elpais. 2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, cr/2015/09/01/las-dos-caras-de- IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) guatemala-frente-a-frente-en-pro- Álvarez, G. (19 de marzo de 2019). De la testas-en-congreso/ indignación al espectáculo: La plaza Rivera, N. (19 de abril de 2015). Roxana 2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, Baldetti se da la media vuelta. Pren- IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) sa Comunitaria. Recuperado de: ht- tps://comunitariapress.wordpress. Bianchi, C. (08 de abril de 2019). De la in- com/2015/04/19/roxana-baldet- dignación al espectáculo: La plaza ti-se-da-la-media-vuelta/ 2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) Rojas, A. (02 de mayo de 2015). Guatemal- tecos exigen la renuncia del binomio Chicola, P. (21 de marzo de 2019). De la presidencial. Prensa Libre. Recupe- indignación al espectáculo: La plaza rado de: https://www.prensalibre. 2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, com/guatemala/politica/guatemal- IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) tecos-exigen-la-renuncia-del-bino- Gutiérrez, E. (29 de abril de 2019). De la mio-presidencial indignación al espectáculo: La plaza Rojas, A. (03 de mayo de 2015). Grupo 2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, permanece encadenado al Palacio IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) Nacional. Prensa Libre. Recupera- do de: https://www.prensalibre. Hernández B., & Saravia, I. (12 de marzo com/guatemala/politica/gru- po- de 2019). De la indignación al es- permanece-encadenado-al-pa- pectáculo: La plaza. 2015. (Área de lacio-nacional Estudios Políticos, IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) Waxenecker, H. (2019). Desigualdad y poder en Guatemala. Economía Lara, B. (09 de marzo de 2019). De la in- de captura. Guatemala: Paraíso dignación al espectáculo: La plaza
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2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, Yagenova, S. (03 de abril de 2019). De la IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) indignación al espectáculo: La plaza 2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, Morales, M. (08 de abril de 2019). De la IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) indignación al espectáculo: La plaza 2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, Photographic References IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) Aragón, J. (2015). Fotografía Plaza de la Polo, R. (22 de marzo de 2019). De la in- Constitución el día del Paro Nacio- dignación al espectáculo: La plaza nal, 27 de agosto de 2015. Archivo 2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, de fotografías propio. IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) Aragón, J. (2015). Fotografía Organizacio- Rodríguez, M (02 de abril de 2019). De la nes estudiantiles en el Paro Nacio- indignación al espectáculo: La plaza nal, 27 de agosto de 2015. Archivo 2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, de fotografías propio. IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador)
Velásquez, L. (12 de marzo de 2019). De la Aragón, J. (2015). Fotografía Manifes- indignación al espectáculo: La plaza taciones del día del Paro Nacional 2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, de 2015. Archivo de fotografías IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) propio.
Wer, G. (07 de marzo de 2019). De la in- Aragón, J. (2015). Fotografía Organizacio- dignación al espectáculo: La plaza nes sociales en el Paro Nacional, 27 2015. (Área de Estudios Políticos, de agosto de 2015. Archivo de foto- IIPS-ECP-USAC, Entrevistador) grafías propio.
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ANEXXES
USACTRICENTENARIA Instituto de Investigaciones Annexed to A. Field Instrument
Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala Political and Science School
Institute for Political and Social Research —IIPS (by Uni versi dad de Sa n C a rlos de Gua tem ala Políticas y Sociales its initials in Spanish) Area or Political Studies
QUESTIONNAIRE A
Interview model for academics and public opinion generators
A changing reality requires theories In that sense, although the research and novel interpretations for takes into account the political wide understand it. Inspired by that premise, scene and the participation of researchers in the Area of IIPS / USAC diverse sectors and political actors, Political Studies are developing the researchers are focusing their efforts study “Fight anti-corruption and political in identifying those ideological and forces in Guatemala, 2015 and 2019”. material products derived from the Supported in the theory of social political events of 2015 and the representations and specifically in the political proposals of political parties concept of social imaginary that participated in the 2019 (Castoriadis and Lacán), this research electoral process. In advance, your has as main objective explain the cooperation is appreciated. Doubts political and ideological content of the and comments please make them agglutinated citizen demonstrations in know to the interviewer. “la plaza” 2015, valuing the demands and discourses of emerging social 1. From your point of view how actors. would you rate what happened in 2015 in Guatemala?
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2. What was the most important 6. In your opinion, who were the political event of the year in actors of “la plaza 2015? question? 7. “They messed with the wrong 3. What political aspects were generation” what meaning you relevant to promote resignationof give to the previous one slogan? the rulers? 8. In your opinion, what were the 4. What does it mean to you (and / more relevant citizen demands? or the organization to which you 9. What did “la plaza 2015” achieve belongs) “la plaza 2015”? and what does it mean for the 5. What historical lessons does it future of Guatemala? leave “la plaza 2015” to the guatemalan politicians and guatemalan society?
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San Carlos de Guatemala University Political and Science School Institute for Political and Social Research-IIPS (by its initials in Spanish) Area of Political Studies
QUESTIONNAIRE B
Interview model for members of social organizations
A changing reality requires theories researchers are focusing their efforts in identifying those ideological and and novel interpretations for material products derived from the understand it. Inspired by that political events of 2015 and the premise, researchers in the Area of political proposals of political parties IIPS / USAC Political Studies are that participated in the 2019 electoral developing the study “Fight anti- process. In advance, your cooperation corruption and political forces in is appreciated. Doubts and comments Guatemala, 2015 and 2019”. please make them know to the Supported in the theory of social interviewer. representations and specifically in the concept of social imaginary 1. What were the modalities of (Castoriadis and Lacán), this protest the movement that research has as main objective represents you used? explain the political and ideological content of the agglutinated citizen 2. What do you consider were the demonstrations in “la plaza” 2015, greatest wins of the movement valuing the demands and that represents? And which discourses of emerging social obstacles do you consider were actors. In that sense, although the the biggest ones and / or defeats? research takes into account the 3. Could you make a short narration political scene wide and the of what it means to you, your participation of diverse sectors and intervention in the protests of political actors 2015, between the conjuncture of April to September?
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4. “In these conditions we do not the corruption structure, its want elections”, what meaning do investigations begin, are held you give to the previous slogan of elections and Jimmy Morales the year 2015? wins. What comes after all this
movement that represents? 5. What was the posture of the movement that represents in 7. How does movement perceive relation to the elections of 2019 electoral scenario? September 2015?
6. Roxana Baldetti resigns and resigns Otto Pérez Molina, falls
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Annex B. Sample interview request letter
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Politics and Society -Investigation Report-2019 Researches ISSN: 25184733
Environmental management in Guatemala: the state dimension and the contribution of the International cooperation
IIPS-Area of International Studios
Introduction in turn, the lines that have governed international cooperation in the country. Environmental problems are not a new subject, in previous times it wasn´t a This research is constituted into two topic of general interest, but also, it was parts. The first was a theoretical- in second plane; However, for some conceptual approximation, about years it has been International cooperation for the State of Guatemala in the Environment Sector, put on the table as one of the main published in the Politics and Society concerns in the international community Magazine # 55. I was used the theory due to climate change and global of complex interdependence, based on warming. Such has been the concern, the contributions of Robert O. Keohane that the international cooperation has and Joseph s. Nye (1988), about the gone increasing and partnerships have multiple channels of cooperation, to been created and organizations are identify the main lines supported for the dedicated to their study, knowledge and same. protection. In the second stage, contained this From this, arises as interest of the AEI document, the team of the AEI, they to address the environmental problem have implemented the entire from the approach that summons to the methodological strategy detailed then to discipline itself, focusing in studying the learn about the progress that the actions of nationals institutions in Guatemalan State has done on the charge of the environmental topic and, issue.
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Environmental Management in Guatemala: the state dimension and contribution of international cooperation
How was the investigation Among the people interviewed were carried out? find: María Mercedes Aguilar, director of CI(international conservation) of The Research on environmental MARN, James Carrera, deputy management in Guatemala, as director of Iarna (Latin American previously mentioned was divided into Research Network on Ageing); Pillar two parts. From the years 2000-2015 in its first published version, and then, Montero, responsible for the project some elements were retaken because Cooperation Fund for Water and would allow the analysis to the second Aecid (Spanish Agency for phase, from the years 2015-2018. International Development Cooperation) sanitation; Carmen The second part is constituted as the Marroquín, director of CI and treaties report of the results of the investigation, of the Minex (The Ministry for Foreign in which they are addressed and Affairs); María Elba Méndez, evaluate, through the methodology of undersecretary CI at the Conred; the chain of results, all those Edvan Marroquín, planning manager characteristics that led to give an and SDG 6 (objectives of sustainable answer to the following question: What development) of Segeplán ; Gabriel actions does the State of Guatemala, Velásquez, head of energy planning- through its institutions, to optimize the miner MEM (Ministry of Energy and resources that are obtained through Mining) ; Omar Samayoa, climate cooperation, in environmental matters? change specialist the BID (Inter- And so, achieve develop an approach American Development Bank); to the evaluation of "potential Norbert Rose, Advisor of the Rural environmental impact”. Development program. and Adaptation to the Climate Change The work methodology included the GIZ ; and representatives of the location and documentary review and Greater Commonwealth South City. hemerographic, studies and laws related with the theme; as well as the In addition, this phase was realization of ten interviews with public complemented with the realization of officials and academicians that, in an academic forum and a discussion different moments have been linked to to get to know the perspectives from the theme. This interview process was the academic sector, both were carried out during the months of developed within the facilities of the March and April of this year. 222
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Obdulio Cotuc, by the Great School of Political Science, USAC, in Commonwealth City of the South. the month of March. The Conversation titled “Superior The Forum entitled “Experiences of Education as a tool for The environmental management in conservation of the environment" was Guatemala: the dimension of the intended to collect all the actions and environment and the contribution of international cooperation” was contributions that are being intended to bring together the various performing from the academy in the experiences of people who have theme. The participation was from worked on the subject since the Sara Ortiz of Iarna; Alex Ruch, from institutions. The participation was the Economic and Social Research from: Carlos Ramos, vice minister of Institute; Alexander Asencio and natural resources and change climate Diego Hernández from the Green of MARN; Andrea Nájera, Office USAC. representative Sustainable Economy International Observatory; Henry Thomas and Image Number 2 Discussion Image Number. 1 Academic Forum
F u e n t e :
I I P S ,
I n t e r n a t Source: IIPS, International Studies Area (2019). Source: IIPS, International Studies Area (2019).
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Environmental Management in Guatemala: the state dimension and contribution of international cooperation
The research process, analysis and The importance of reviewing the preparation of the Final Report that profile from Guatemala, part of the presents below was done by the need to know what are the following research team: Bachelor. resources available and, based on Karen Johana Arévalo Mejía this, determine the main lines of (Coordinator of the IIPS International work in which the international Studies), Cenia Melizza Marroquín cooperation has been focused and Solís Auxiliary research; also counted the actions that have been carrying with the students Alma Sagastume out by institutions in charge of the (studying the eighth cycle of environment sector in the country. sociology) and Ana Lucía Reiche (studying the eighth cycle of Guatemala Profile International Relations), who collaborated in the transcription of the Guatemala is a country located in interview process and systematization Central America, it has an area of of results. 108,890 Km2. With a coastline that extends up to 400 kilometers. The Guatemala: a country with even weather of Guatemala is mostly data? tropical with a warm variation and wet in the lowland and cold in Guatemala is already within the Highlands. The terrain of the region countries who have an average income, and that greatly limits is mainly mountainous with narrow access to donation and cooperation coastal plains and plateaus of technical resources not the loan limestone. There are numerous part. Guatemala cannot access to a mechanism called Special volcanoes in the mountains that Operations Fund in which the Inter- sometimes erupt. The region is also American Development Bank (IDB) has softer conditions […]. threatened with occasional violent Guatemala's GDP is up from the earthquakes, vulnerable to category of candidates for that type hurricanes and other tropical of loans, it's a little bit contradictory, Well, if we check the indicators of storms. Deforestation, erosion of development are from a country soil and water pollution are the main with a very incipient level of environmental hazards in the region development to level of Latin America […] getting out of the (Maps of the world, 2018). normal behavior within those countries. (Samayoa, 2019)
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Map Number 1 Georaphical location of Guatemala
Source: Satellite Coordinates (Google Maps) of Guatemala (2019).
The political-administrative division of majority, with 8,757,061 women, the country is of 8 regions, 22 representing 50.77% of the total, departments and 338 municipalities compared to 8,490,746 men who are that are divided into villages, hamlets, 49.23% (Datosmacro, 2019). farms and other forms of community Table 1 shows the main country organization (MARN, 2015). indicators, it should be noted that It has a population of approximately the statistical data is not current, the 17,247,807, located in a position of 67 variation from years to which is of 196 countries in the table referenced, is due to the lack of data population (UN, 2018), with a density from the last census and the of 158 inhabitants per Km2. In 2018, dispersion of the data not unified the female population was the and available for use by the entire population.
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Table Number 1 Indicators of Guatemala Indicators HDI 0.6(2018) Place 127
Life Expectancy 72.5(2019) 69.1(men) 76.1(women) Illiteracy 12.31(2016)
School Attendance 6.0(2016) 84.7(2011) (non Population literate indigenous) 62.5(indigenous Mortality rate 69.4 (2017) (external (external 11.2 (by 5.7 (by respiratory circumstances) circumstances) diarrhoea) diseases) 4.8(Gross rate)
Infant Mortality rate 20(2017) Gross birth rate 22.5(2017)
Population growth rate 2.19(2019) Quality of housing 13.0 (2006) Overcrowding 31.0 (2006) Fuente: IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales con base en datos extraídos de (República 2018, INE 2019). Source of water supply 13.0 (2006) una mala calidad de vida. En este Availability of health estudio, Guatemala se ubica en el service 22.0 (2006) Source: IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales conpuesto base en 127, datos segúnextraídos Programa de (República de las 2018, INE 2019). Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo
Regarding the Human Development position 127, according to the United Index (HDI), done by the Organization Nations Development Programme of the United Nations (UN) to measure (UNDP) (2018), out of 189 countries the progress of a country and that evaluated (elPeriódico, 2018). ultimately shows the The HDI has into account three standard of living of its inhabitants, variables: long life and healthy, indicates that Guatemalans have a knowledge and level of decent poor quality of life. In this study, life (see Table 1). Guatemala is located in the Therefore, among others, the fact
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Politics and Society Magazine – Information Reports – 2019 that life expectancy in Guatemala is in Atlantic, where the Caribbean humid 72. 5 years, its rate of mortality in 4.81 winds act that prolong the wet ‰ and their income per capita is US $ season, usually between May and 4, 534.8. October. The precipitations, of the order of the 4,000 mm annually, they Natural Resources of Guatemala are less intense in the Pacific where the dry station lasts longer. The The relief of Guatemala is formed vegetation offers three aspects: through plateaus, mountains and tropical of humid forest, on the volcanoes alternating with deep coasts, of hot lands; the Atlantic valleys and depressions, which runs vegetation of forests of precious from the La Sierra Madre of Chiapas woods; the savanna, which appears in and continues for La Sierra of Cuchumatanes, to the North, to the areas of the interior; the semi-tropical Chixoy valley; It'hs about a vegetation thrives at heights up to sedimentary rock system that rise 1,800 m, and above from them grow above 3,000m in Altos Cuchumatanes conifers, holm oaks and tree ferns and reaches the maximum height in (INE, 2014). the 3,800 m of Pico Chemal (INE, Guatemala is a country with a lot 2014). tectonic and volcanic activity due to its Weather conditions are determined by geographical position (see it in Map latitude and altitude. In the capital, No. 2), since it belongs to the average temperatures range between Circumpacific Belt of Fire. In the 17º and 20ºC. Hot lands, up to 700 m, national territory converge three record averages between 23º and tectonic plates: Cocos Plate in the 32ºC in the plains coastal and river south, forming an area of subduction valleys of the Atlantic slope; on the Pacific coast, Caribbean Plate, temperate lands of the Altiplano, are which occupies all the central part of between 700 and 1,800m, have the country. On this plate all the averages of 18º to 25ºC; the cold volcanism of the country, and runs the lands accuse daytime and seasonal entire line trace. The area of Motagua oscillations, with temperatures is part of the limit of this plate with averages between 15º and 25ºC. The North America and the North rainfall is more intense in the American Plate, located in the north of the country (INE, 2014).
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In this sense, it is worth mentioning be developed later, in order to mitigate that the country, due to its the natural disasters and those geographical location, is vulnerable to caused by man and, furthermore, natural phenomena that can seriously serve as a link for the best uptake affect the conditions of thecountry. and to take advantage of the From this, should exist a preventive international cooperation. policy and not reactionary, how will
Fuente: Compendio EstadísticoMap Ambiental Number de Guatemala 2 (2014). Seismic Zone in the Republic of Guatemala Seismic Zones
Zones of earthquakes B Seismic zone corresponding to the volcanic chain.
C It comprises the seismic zone of the Polochic Motagua faults.
D zone corresponding to the Petén basin. Source: Compendio Estadístico Ambiental de Guatemala (2014).
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Figure Number 1 Extension of plant exosystems (Km2)
Source: Compendio Estadístico Ambiental de Guatemala (2014).
One of the biggest resources of least 317 rivers, of which the most Guatemala are forests and water; the abundant are Usumacinta, Motagua, greater extent of ecosystems, Sarstún, Ixcán, Polochic and according to The National Council for Suchiate. In the subsoil are 34 million Protected Areas (CONAP by its initials cubic meters of water, and the water in spanish), Department of flows have Conservation Units, occupated by power to generate 4,500 megawatts forests with 52,903.03 km2, following of electricity (INSIVUMEH, s.f.). the agricultural systems of forest plantations with 41,836.07 km2 and to Another major topic that is essential to a lesser extent the bushes with address, is the use of soil. In 2012, 10,901.45 km2 (INE, 2014). the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) made the On the subject of water resources vegetation coverage map and use of there are three streams of water: the the land where was revealed that Pacific, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, 40.43% of the territory is used for with 38 water basins, seven lakes, agricultural crops and 55.96% for 365 lagoons, 779 lagoons, and at forests and others semi-natural media (INE, 2015).
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Figure Number. 2 Coverage and land use of Guatemala, year 2012
Source: Compendio Estadístico Ambiental de Guatemala (2015).
, The flora and fauna of Guatemala is species and endemism,and houses determined like mega diversity, around 7 to 10 percent of known life according to the UN (2010), since the forms in the planet. This allowed that country is one of the 19 with the during the Tenth Conference of the greatest biological diversity. Within Parties (COP-10) held in the city of species that are part of the Nagoya, Japan in biodiversity from Guatemala there are 720 birds, 244 mammals, 245 reptiles, 2010, Guatemala will be included 10 thousand 317 kinds of flora, 1 within the Group of Similar Mega- thousand 033 kinds of fish and 147 diverse Countries (LMMC) of the amphibians. Convention on Biological Diversity of
United Nations. Worldwide only are 20 For that reason, it is considered a named countries like Megadiverse. Megadiverse Country due to its The wealth of Guatemala is Natural biological and cultural diversity; as and Cultural (National Council of part of Mesoamerica, ranks second Protected Areas, 2019). place of the most diverse regions of
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Map Number 3 Guatemala’s Biodiversity
Source: Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (2019).
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1.3 Economic Data This indicator in addition to showing Gross domestic product (GDP) of that a country's economy falls directly Guatemala in 2018 has grown 3.1% in interest rates, in this case, which compared to 2017. This is a rate 3 tenths you can access the State of higher than of 2017, which was 2.8%. In Guatemala, either for project loans or 2018 the figure of GDP was US $ 73.26 financing cooperative, shows the million, which Guatemala is positioned position in the economy table, the like economy number 71 in the ranking GDP, external debt and the HDI, which categorizes countries in of the 196 countries. Its public debt in different groups, according to their 2017 was US $ 18.25 million, with a debt needs and capabilities as it's shown in of 24.72% of GDP, and debt per capita the following. of US $ 1,078.45 per inhabitant (Macro data, 2019). Table Number 2 Classifying countries by level of income
threshold percapita GNI (USD current value) Low income 995 or less average income between 996 and 3895 median income between 3896 and 12055 high income more than 12 055
Source: IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales, según datos del Banco Mundial (2018).
In the period 2018 —2019 have emerged changes in classification, placing
Guatemala in a new income group:
Table Number 3 Changes in the classifying of Guatemala by level of income
Country Former group New group Guatemala middle low income middle high income
Source: IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales, según datos del Banco Mundial (2018).
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Adding that it is in the position 98 of received for international the 190 which forms the ranking cooperation within the institutions of Doing Business (2019), which government. From that account, classifies countries according to Guatemala has obtained 27 points in easiness they offer to make business. the Index of Corruption Perception Unlike the per capita GDP of published by the Organization for Guatemala in 2018 was US $ 4.25, $ Transparency International (2019). 114 lower than in 2017, when it was $ Its score has dropped in the last 4.36. According to its GDP per capita, report, which means that Guatemala is in 109th place of 196 Guatemalans perceive an increase countries. According to this of corruption in the public sector of parameter, a very low standard of the country. The decrease of Its living in relation to the rest of the 196 score has caused Guatemala countries in the ranking of GDP per worsens its position to the rest of capita. the countries until position 144, of 180. The disparity of statistical data that are presented, are the reflection from The System of Environmental a totally unequal country; despite that Economic Accounting (SEEA) the economy has remained stable, its SEEA orders the economic indicators do not show the quality of information and environmental to life that a State should guarantee to show the contribution of the natural its inhabitants, in other words the system for generation of wealth and common good. In addition to this, at its use as a waste receptor the moment to move up, the country (Monterroso, Carrera, García, & would stop from being a priority Ortiz, 2019). candidate for international cooperation though poverty and malnutrition rates The SEEA process in Guatemala demonstrate the opposite for the can be defined as an alliance public- economy, making it vulnerable. academic. The idea came in the late of 2005 and it was implemented Within the same logic, a theme which by the academy under the has been relevant during recent leadership of the Institute of years, is that corruption, in addition to Research and Projection on Natural being one of the causes of Environment and society (larna, by mismanagement of resources its initials in spanish) of the 233
Environmental Management in Guatemala: the state dimension and contribution of international cooperation University Rafael Landívar in energy and fisheries resources and alliance with the Bank from aquaculture; ii) compilation of pilot Guatemala (Banguat). From its exercises of the experimental inception, the process of account of ecosystems, the implementation SCAE (by its initials agricultural environmental account, in spanish) was designed to ensure account of wealth; and iii) the institutionalization, with the objective identification of indicators generated to create an institutional platform by the SEEA for monitoring the and operating strategies more National Plan Sustainable powerful Today, the process has Development Goals. been endorsed by National Statistics Institute (INE by its initials in Land Management (OT by its spanish) and categorized it as part initials in spanish) of the "official statistics" of the country (Monterroso, Carrera, Land National Policy Planning. García, & Ortiz, 2019). (PNOT by its initials in spanish) “It is the process technical-political, At the national level, and in an instrumented, normative and intergovernmental space integrated binding, arranged, co-responsible by the Secretariat for Progrannig and participatory of planning for the and Programming of the Presidency spatial organization, land (Segeplán), The Ministry of management and its resources” Environment and Natural Resources (Segeplán, 2016). (MARN) and the Ministry of Finance (MINFIN), in addition to Banguat PNOT arises as a necessity of the and INE, it was defined that the State to have a vision unified accounts be generated in a way that allowing dialogue between the provides information in the next four dimensions of the socioeconomic national policy priorities: (i) Inclusive and territorial partner development . green growth and reduction of In addition, being one of the poverty, (ii) food security, (iii) climate Priorities National Development change,risk and economic growth, Programs (PND) that determines the and (iv) environmental and viability and feasibility of the economic sustainability (Monterroso, development of the others priorities. Carrera, García, & Ortiz, 2019). However, to define the bases for Progress has been made in 2018 in: inter-institutional coordination in
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Politics and Society Magazine – Information Reports – 2019 terms of land use and management, the country. it must be possible to articulate competences and responsibilities to Difficulties jointly implement policies, strategies It is important to mention, that and instruments of territorial difficulties to implement PNOT are management, considering the that there is no law of Land country's territorial scales, such as Management, as happens in the rest joint commitment, to contribute to of Central American countries. improve social and economic conditions and environmental in Centre for Urban and Regional which Guatemalan population Studies (CEUR by its initials in develops (Segeplán, 2016). spanish), has presented various studies related to the subject; among From this account the institutions of them is a series of conferences where the government have formed an delimited the implications of the Land interinstitutional table, within which Management in Guatemala, in which they can be called MARN, INAB, they determined that within the CONRED, which are the institutions difficulties to implement the PNOT in charge of the environmental sector (Segeplán, 2016), the following are in Guatemala and Segeplán as an observed: entity planner of policy action of the • Instruments for land regulation is government. disjointed, with gaps and with a Part of the process takes place weak implementation. depending on the availability of • There is no a multilevel institutional environmental services, the resilience arrangement that allows entities of ecosystems ability, dynamics and with competence in ordering and economic, social, ecological and development territorial interact in a cultural demands. With the coordinated way. implementation of PNOT, it is • The installed capacity for Land intended to answet to the need of: Management process is adaptation and mitigation to change heterogeneous and overall climate and comprehensive risk insufficient in terms of information, management, that directly affects knowledge, human capital, capacity, efficiency of economic activities and technique and resources.
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However, the territorial ordering is an (MAGA), the Ministry of Environment effective condition for implementation and Natural Resources (MARN), the of the PND. The lines raised after the Secretariat for Progrannig and order, will serve as a foundation to Programming of the Presidency achieve, mitigate and reduce the (SEGEPLAN) will provide the vulnerability of the projects and lines collaboration that municipalities of the of action that run the government, country need to adapt their territorial donors, and local governments. development plans, for the purposes of this law. Following the line of the environment sector, the order will contribute to a Municipalities and Councils of Urban control, protection and management and Rural Development, in of natural resources and biological accordance with their respective diversity, deforestation and loss of eco powers, when attending the territorial systemic services. Lack of a territorial order for adaptation and mitigation of environmental management and the climate change, they will take into provision of basic poor services have account the results of national as a consequence other social communications of climatic change problems derived from and biophysical, social, economic and mismanagement and they can relapse cultural conditions respective into health problems and feeding. territories ( Legislative body, 2013).
Link with the environment Land Management policy constitutes the areas to advise municipalities in According to the Framework Law to power Land Management plans focus Regulate Vulnerability reduction, on climate change, according to the Compulsory Adaptation facing Law of Climate Change of the Decree Climate Change effects and 7-2013. Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases, Likewise, institutions must have establishes in its Art. 12: commitments, in which the Land Land Management for the Adaptation Management Plan of the reserve and Mitigation to Climate Change. areas of the State with a management The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock approach of risk and climate change and Food should have a city policy. The strategic environmental studies for municipal plans they must follow a
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of urban and rural development, as logic territorial ordering. well as territorial planning, in addition For organization and coordination of of enforcing strategic lines established public administration, it is created the in the National Plan K’atun 2032 and National Council for Urban and Rural the PND. Development. (Conadur by its initials It should be noted that municipalities in spanish) coordinated by the are in charge of attending local public President of the Republic and services, territorial planning of its integrated in the way that law jurisdiction and the fulfillment of its establishes it. This Council will be in own purposes (Segeplán, 2016). charge of the formulation of policies
Image Number 3 Coordination and Inter-Institutional Cooperation (PNOT, By its initials in Spanish)
Source: Segeplán (2016). Imagen No. 3
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The figure shows the axes of PNOT, The new International Agenda which establish three dimensions, 2030 sustainable natural resources In the first part of the investigation, a management, integration of the urban chronology was presented on all legal and rural, safe and resilient and institutional scaffolding which has development; which are driven for oriented the international community, capacity building, indigenous since 2000, to the building of common territories and collective management goals and thus, contribute to improve of the territory, municipal fortress, and the problems of the world; so this information for the Land Management. section will be dealt with succinctly. It is evident that the axes of the An important and key year for both the PNOT, stress the need for an international community as for the approach of cross-section of the country, it is the year 2015. Here territory with the environment, should be presented, before the however, it is necessary that the Organization of the United Nations municipalities comply with the (UN), the results obtained in provisions, adding that it should compliance of the agenda Millennium prevail the coordination and Development Goals (MDG), results cooperation interagency for that, for the country, were not compliance of the NDP. significant; featuring more setbacks than advance. From International to National
Monitoring of MDG progress One of the concerns is that Guatemala has signed a series of (water-forests) environmental agreements; among them the Agreement of Paris which In monitoring results of the progress of is a binding agreement at the the Objectives of the Millennium, the moment there is no movement to Guatemalan State reported that the advance the compliance with those indicator o forests developed agreements. And it's not easy, negatively, according to the Report on because its multisectoral, multi- topic, because not only one compliance with MDG (2015), the institution must work, are all, which covered territory for forests was 34%, makes it even more difficult, in being negative, as for 2001 the addition to territorial management and resource management. (Huntsman, 2019)
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Politics and Society Magazine – Information Reports – 2019 covered territory was 38%. About the which, 76% of the people who have access to drinking water, the goal to access to improved sources of achieve with the MDGs, was 82% of drinking water in 2014.
Figure No. 4 Monitoring of MDG results (Forests-Drinking water)
Source: Informe del cumplimiento de los SDO (Segeplán, 2015).
Most require effort to improve overall by the country have ben disparate, development of the Guatemalan and territories results are positive population, so the adoption of the high, in others are still wide gaps. In agenda had great implications, due to general, the population that lives in the development issue becomes rural areas, indigenous people and important on the public agenda: women continue to be groups where the minors progress are observed The agenda has allowed to guide the (Segeplán, 2015). resources and public management towards the scope of objectives, goals In addition to this, and after presenting and indicators stipulated. The state of the Compliance Report MDG, the Guatemala made the commitment to international community agrees the ratify the agreements, visualizing them urgent establishment. of the as a minimal agenda that would allow Sustainable Development Goals ensures better quality of life for the (SDG), as a guide for the Agenda population. […] The results reached Development Post 2015 and, in turn,
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Environmental Management in Guatemala: the state dimension and contribution of international cooperation call for participation of each State. issues and how this cooperation has been implemented for the Guatemalan In this second part of the State, to starting from the linking of investigation, from 2015 to the the National and international agenda. present, becomes relevant because it held the Sustainable Development Some progress of the State of Summit, at the UN headquarters, in Guatemala in terms of implementation which the Member States of this of the SDGs are reflected in actions of Organization, approved the Agenda the National Council for Urban and 2030 for Sustainable Development. Rural Development(Conadur by its This ambitious agenda includes 17 initials in spanish) belonging to the goals with 169 goals; characterizing National System of Guatemala for having a broader scope and that Development Councils, which is goes beyond the MDGs, in addressing constitutional creation. This is referred the root causes of poverty and that you must have a work strategy, universal need to achieve because the international agenda is development in favor of everybody. complex and ambitious.
The Goals span three dimensions of In this context, the National Plan of sustainable development: econo- K’atun Development Our Guatemala mical growth, social inclusion and 2032 was created. This contemplates, environmental protection (UN, 2017), within its five thematic axes, one so later an assessment of progress related to climate change, which will be made in its implementation, proposes actions related to forests, mainly those focused targets on the biodiversity and protected areas, in environmental theme. terms of resources water (drinking water and sanitation), soils (intensity of The Guatemalan national agenda use, erosion), current situation of agriculture and of the available land to Starting from the protection line to the food security, solid waste and liquid environment and the various channels waste marine-coastal systems, lake, of cooperation received in the country river and wetlands, energy and non- in favor of this, which constitutes in renewable natural resources (mining the central theme of the and oil etc.) (Segeplán, 2014);also of investigation,it is described which public and private sector involvement, ones have been the actions of the for main cooperators on environmental
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the development of what was the international community, the established in the Plan. state Guatemalans institutions should: a) link the guidelines of the Considering that, the formulation of K ́atun Plan 2032, based on the national development priorities.(NDP) provisions of it, b) apply the results of are part of a series of processes and the analysis and the proposals of instruments of development at territorial multilevel development, national and international level, that contained in the Development Plans are derived from K’atun 2032. The implementation of the NDP requires and aligned them to the Plan K'atun steps to achieve articulation and 2032 and, c) align the public policies formulation of strategies to achieve and Government´s General Policy to the established goals. Furthermore, the National Development Policy. with the commitment acquired from (Segeplán, 2015).
Figure number 5 Chronology of the development of the National Priorities
Fuente: Prioridades Nacionales de Desarrollo (2016) (Segeplán, 2019).
Source: Prioridades Nacionales de Desarrollo (2016) (Segeplán, 2019).
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In 2016, through the sixth point of its initials in spanish), as a result of Act 7-2016, the NCAER, decides to result of the integration of SDGs to the prioritize the Agenda according to NDP, which has a methodology the lessons learned within the nationally designed to speed up framework of monitoring of the implementation of the articulation MDGs. With this objective, approves strategy. the "Strategies of articulation of the Figure number 6 Agenda of sustainable development Sustainable Development Goals goals with the Plan of National and alignment to the frame of policy on the development of development of Guatemala K´atun: Our Guatemala 2032 ”, which allowed to prioritise objectives, goals and indicators. One of the main characteristics of this new Agenda of the SDGs is that it has a certain flexibility, allowing States to prioritize the goals that best fit to the needs of each country and are feasible to implement.
In this sense, through the Operative Point 15-2016, the NCAER approves the prioritization exercise of the SDG Agenda, which is constituted by 17 objectives, 129 goals and 200 indicators.
Then, through an technical analysis process, the 129 prioritized SDG targets with the 80 goals of the National Plan K’atún, as a result 99 strategies goals that respond to both instruments.
Of those 99 goals, 16 major goals are prioritized, called Strategic Source: Selección del compromiso nacional Goals Development (MED by its (Segeplán, 2019).
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monitoring of the priorities of This is made up of 8 components in development ”(Segeplán, 2016). Being order to guide the implementation thus, one of its competences: public process of national priorities. In the policy alignment (transversal, sectoral, Component "2" it is stipulated that institutional and territorial) to the "the public sector should be in charge national priorities of development and of leading the process and coordinate linkage with planning and public with responsible bodies and budgeting. correspondents of implementation
Figure Number 7 Components of the Implementation of the Strategy structure of national priorities, approved by NCAER, 2017
Source: Estrategia de Implementación de las Prioridades Nacionales de Desarrollo (Segeplán, 2019).
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These components are indispensable civil society and international for the execution of the agendas cooperation. However, the need of an formulated. One of the competitions of inter-institutional coordination that vital importance for measurement of allows progress in implementation of the progress of the established the Strategy, has influenced NDPs are Strategy, is the availability of statistics information for planning and included in the operational planning in monitoring and evaluation, through such a way that public budgets and the strengthening of the National international financing through the Information System that allows to cooperation in charge of Strategic give a report for development and Goals Development (MED) in a local monitoring of progress. and national level. Thus, one of the great advances that is forcing to Lack of data to measure the impact of respond to the establishment of lines the proposed strategies to solve the of action under the compliance with problems in Guatemala, through its the SDGs. public policies has been one of the weaknesses which has failed to National privileges in the measure the actual scope of Environment Sector implementation of these, as well, has prevented the continuity of programs In 2018, as a result of integration of and projects of cooperation in the the Plan K’atun 2032 and the country. Prioritized SDGs emerge from the 10 NDP, 2 that are specifically linked to Furthermore, in Component “5”it is the environmental issue: established that the financing for development, comprises three • Availability and access to water important moments: i) readjustment of and natural resource management the budget, ii) public finances for development, iii) alignment and • The economic value of natural efficiency of the private sector, society resources
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Figure 8 National Development Priorities (Environment Sector)
Source: Segeplán (2019).
Figure 9 Order of National Development priorities (NDP)
Source: Metas priorizadas sobre Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (Segeplán, 2019).
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Order prioritization: in red are the ones that correspond to those of based on three phases: 1) alignment greater importance and significance of objectives and goals in accordance for the country. In blue is in second with priorities of development order and finally in third order in contained in development yellow. instruments, 2) the prioritization of Guatemalan society, and 3) Keila Gramajo, advisor Head Office of availability and disaggregation of Segeplán, stated that two priorities statistical information and the gap are determining factors of between social groups and territories. development for the eight mentioned: International agendas of development The first is the territorial ordering and that considers, are the most the work carried out since territories is transcendent regarding to its focus important, so will always be on “people” and especially of searched that: one hundred percent population groups that are vulnerable in addition to those linked to the of the municipalities have a environment (Segeplán, 2016). Development plan comprehensive territorial management, and 40% of the prioritization will go to the Municipalal authorities achieve greater strategic lines drawn in the NDP capacity of management to attend K´atun Our Guatemala 2032, followed development needs and demands on by development priorities established behalf of the citizenry. The second in the General Policy of Government conditioning factor of development is and the Agenda of the Millennium social spending and integral tax Development Goals (MDGs) that were reform which is preponderant to pending and that must be fulfilled; achieve the other national Finally with the other development of priorities.(Segeplán, 2017) international agendas, agreed and ratified for the State of Guatemala. The Stage two of the Strategy "prioritization of the agenda ”will be
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Multiple channels: the complementing national resources contribution of international and contribution to economic and cooperation and its link with social development, for the sake of institutions of the State of overcoming the backwardness, Guatemala poverty, ignorance and marginality existing internationally; presenting Actually the environment, let's development policy ideas, say it has not been like the transforming entire sectors and majority sectors in terms of strengthening areas such as access to investment. […] I think what has education, drinking water, electrical been there is a major impact at the institutional level because energy, sanitation, health centers, once you can see it reflected in roads, among others. a serie of regulations, laws […] For this, theorists like Socas & Guatemala has known how to take advantage of support that Hourcade (2009) propose a comes along, I like it enters into conceptualization about IC, which negotiations on objectives, makes it useful: scopes and certain proposals […] Cooperation can be defined as […] So there is a cooperation, the cooperator can zoom in and international actions taken carried out find structures; the challenge is by nation-states or organizations of going down this to more these sub-national actors or NGO of a territories of the country, so that
be at a local level ”(Samayoa, country, with other / s of these actors O., & Rose, N., 2019). belonging to other country / ies to
achieve common goals at the international level and / or in the national of one or more actors. International Cooperation While it is true that the types of Through time and as a practice of actions of cooperation would be international relations, International grouped within the term “international Cooperation (IC) has intended to cooperation”, it is important solve the main problems affecting a understand the difference between country; in turn, implies a joint effort of each one of them: two or more States for mutual benefit, […] The actors par excellence are by exchanging resources for nation-states, cooperation is defined as bilateral when it is exercised between two States, and as 248
Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports - 2019 multilateral when it is an organization environment stage, within a of States who take part. […] If the participatory democracy. [...]The donor country is considered as a cooperation must be consistent with developed country the process is government policies, international called cooperation North-South or relations and financial and fiscal vertical. On the other hand, if you policy. talk about a developing country but As a result of the signing of the Peace has reached some capacity in a Accords, bilateral cooperation towards certain aspect that transfers to Guatemala, increased progressively another developing country the between the years of 1996 to 1998. In process is known as South-South this last year the Tropical storm Mitch cooperation or horizontal. (Socas & was one more reason for economic Hourcade, 2009) cooperation obtained. According to It is important to highlight that the the registered data, the cooperation concept from donor country - missed 100 million dollars in the year recipient country has been modified; 1996, more than 200 million in the at this time it is considered correct to year 1997, and $ 300 million in year talk about cooperating countries, 1998 […] (Area of International taking into mind that as much as a Studies IIPS, 2017). country is the "offeror", in the Below is a line of time, which shows exchange both always recieve the key moments of catchment benefits (Socas & Hourcade, 2009). cooperation, which reflects a very IC in the environment sector in relevant; international cooperation has arrived in the country in moments very Guatemala particular, mainly for emergencies and The Secretariat of Planning and natural disasters or disasters by man, Programming of the Presidency raised in the country, because of (Segeplán, 2015) has defined IC as: natural phenomena. […] A technical mechanism support, financial and political provided by friendly countries and multilateral 1 It was one of the worst natural disasters organizations specialized in for that has hit Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Guatemala to achieve development sustained and sustainable on economic, social, financial, commercial, administrative and 249
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Due to the characteristics that the positioned in the Financing group 2 for country presents, according to the study projects of cooperation in which the carried out by the Water and Sanitation majority receive 80% of cooperation Spanish Cooperation Fund (FCAS) as a donation. Observe Table No. 4. (2017), Guatemala is
Table 4 Categorization to grant financing for cooperation projects
Countries of wide or focus Association middle income countries
Group 1 HIPC, 100% Financing (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries) Group 2, 80 % Financing Group 3, 50 %Financing Colombia ( Considered a vulnerable country due to the armed conflict, it is the only one Argentina , of the Focused Association the other ones Brasil, are in a wide Associateion) Costa Rica, Ecuador Chile El Salvador Cuba, Bolivia Guatemala México Honduras Perú Panamá, Nicaragua República Dominicana Uruguay, Haití Paraguay Venezuela
Source: Fondo Español de Cooperación para Agua y Saneamiento (2017, p.2).
Aid granted by the Fund of Category 1 financing system with the national countries, the poorest of the authorities of the countries. In all three hemisphere and with low levels of cases, the Fund has a character of coverage service, they arrive to cover donation, and therefore the countries 100% of the budget of the projects, do not assume obligations to return without requiring the country any type the amount received (Water and of own funds. For countries in Sanitation Spanish Cooperation Fund (FCAS), 2017, p. 2). categories 2 (with low or medium
levels of coverage services) and 3 International cooperation is essential (with medium coverage levels), The for sectors that are not cared by the Fund finances projects of water and State of Guatemala, either for lack of sanitation within the co- budget or political will.
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However, this cooperation must Development, especially through the adapt its agendas in such a way that Alliance established in SDG 17. they align to development planning The lack of current data that allow to from the country. And following the get the x-ray of the country to make established in the Implementation the corresponding decisions to Strategy of NDPs, cooperation will implementation strategies of projects, require your assistance scheme in prioritization areas, it has hindered based on such planning. that projects of cooperation be Another important aspect that must strengthened, where it is necessary be highlight is that the review, really and with the need of readjustment and budget alignment immediate attention, making the to PND will sue each of the public cooperators establish their own institutions in coordination with the territories of attention based in their governing body and the Ministry of own studies and they can result in a Finance, to carry out the non-viable project or sustainable. readjustments of budget and changes in the programmatic structure of The cooperatin sector related institutions.
Spanish Development Agencia Espa ola Alignment and effectiveness are de Cooperaci n Cooperation Agency Internacional essential within the private sector, para el Desarrollo from civil society and from (Aecid by its initials in international cooperation of priorities spanish ) development, thus resources Environment and development are provided complement national efforts two inseparable themes, for Aecid, and avoid fragmentation and those are the ones that assure the dispersion thereof. Which, the survival of the species human and cooperating sources must observe depends on the state in where goods and comply with their skills, to what is are and irreplaceable services that established in each implementation nature offers for free. mechanisms that presents the prioritized Agenda for the Sustainable
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In Latin America, along with the activity of the Euroclima + Program on activity of the Cooperation Fund for climate change in Latin America and Water and Sanitation, marks the role the Caribbean, especially in the they play, on one side, the Technical components linked to water Office of Costa Rica, specialized in management (droughts and floods environment and technical unit of the and urban water), and energy ARAUCLIMA Program, Environment efficiency. and Climate Change of Spanish For all this, AECID will continue Cooperation in Latin America and the counting on strategic nationals Caribbean and on the other hand, the partners such as the Spanish Office Training Center of the Spanish of Climate Change, the State Cooperation in La Antigua Meteorology Agency, the National (Guatemala), responsible from the environment community associated Civil Protection School, the Energy with the Interconnect Plan of Research Centre, Environmental and Knowledge Management and Technological, the Environmental development of the Knowledge and Hydraulics Institute from Cantabria or Development on the risk coastal the Autonomous Organization for management associated with climate National Parks, among others. At the change. multilateral level supports the United Nations Development Programme Also, they support projects that (UNDP) and its Global Program to guarantee access to energy and support Determined National deployment of renewable energy and Commitments of the Paris Agreement energy efficiency and will continue the for the fight against climate change to support for the Centre for Renewable the UN environment, as manager of Energy and Energy Efficiency the exchange platform of knowledge (ECOWAS), in West Africa and others and technology transfer on climate initiatives that improve resilience of change from Latin America and the the population facing of risks and Environmental degradation. Caribbean: REGATTA, and UNESCO, for its defense of the Natural World Within delegated cooperation (EU Heritage (Aecid, 2019). funds), the effort will focus on the
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Table Number 5 Clean water and sanitization and climate action Linking AECID with the ODS
Goal 6.1.A. Goal 6.1. Achieve universal access and Expand service coverage equitable to drinking water. of drinking water. Goal 6.2.A. Encourage infrastructure
Goal 6.2. Achieve equitable access to development basic sanitation services and hygiene. of access to basic sanitation services Goal 6.5.A. Support water governance
clean water and
-
sanitation
6 Goal 6.3. Improve integrated and comprehensive management of management of water resources. water resources.
Goal 13.2.
- Incorporate measures Goal 13.2.A. Support partners in actions
13 relating to climate change in aimed at reducing emissions
CLIMA
CLIMA TE CHANG E ACCIÓN policies, strategies and National plans of greenhouse gases.
Source: IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales con datos de AECID (2019).
The table specifies the SDGs that the Spanish contribution to links the cooperating agency in Multilateral Organizations who work in environmental mat. These objectives Guatemala. It coordinates with are implemented from the moment administrations and other agents of that the projects are planned, in order cooperation, the preparation of for them to be accepted and can be strategic documents. Finally, the executed. Office also offers advice and support to Non-Governmental organization for AECID in Guatemala works under the Development, Spanish NGDOs with lines of action drawn by the TCO presence in the country (AECID TCO in Costa Rica. Central American Guatemala, 2008). countries receive cooperation under Since 2009 approximately 43 Spanish regional programs. NGO´s have worked in Guatemala. The Technical Cooperation Office They work with formal representation, (TCO) of the Spanish Agency in or with a link through a local NGO. Guatemala is in charge of put in place The main sectors of action of these programs and development projects organizations, either through financed by The Spanish agreements or projects, they are focus Government, likewise, supervises in reducing maternal and child mortality, promotion of indigenous
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 in the management of disaster risks rights, empowerment of women, even of climate type. especially indigenous, food sovereignty and protection of the For the WB authorities, these funds, environment. which have an option deferred disbursement before catastrophes Within its lines of action are (CAT DDO), involve immediate contributions to the full year and resources. This is for response respecting human rights in the activities and recovery after events of municipal field, with an emphasis on high impact, like earthquakes, rights, following the line of volcanic eruptions, floods and investigation in environmental matters, hurricanes, or health emergencies like the following are specified: Right to outbreaks of infectious diseases, Water and Sanitation, Right of Gender clarified the international body. “ CAT Equity and Law to political DDO would be activated and would participation. disburse funds after an official declaration of State of Public The World Bank (WB) Calamity, in accordance with national legislation” (WB, 2019). The World Bank (WB) has granted recently a loan to the Guatemalan It was also disclosed that the loan has government of $ 200 million (Q1,540 a final maturity of 25 years, including a million, approximately) to strengthen grace period of 10 years, it reflects the the capacities of the country in risk commitment of Government for management and face the tragedies diversification of financial instruments caused by natural disasters. of disaster risks” (Diario de Centroamérica, 2019). According to the WB executive board, This loan, the second one for policies the loan provided to the country to of development of Disaster "Development policies" would management along with CAT DDO, increase Guatemala's capacity are based on the experience of the to mobilize resources quickly, after first risk management loan disaster, adverse natural events or health which disbursed US $ 85 million, in emergencies. Support the response to the Pacaya volcano modernization of the legal and eruption and Tropical storm Agatha, in institutional framework of the country 2010 (Diario de Centroamérica, 2019).
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Inter-American of development, eligibility and Bank Development requirements of disbursement of loans (IDB) such as size criteria, amounts and the The Inter-American financial terms. Each loan category Banks Development’s (IDB) way of offers various types of loan options operating with States that requires and approaches. project and programs financing, it is Categories of loans of sovereign carried out through: Loans with and guarantee: without sovereign guarantee and through cooperation technique. • Investment loans to countries IDB borrowers: finance goods, public Most projects and programs of works and services to promote technical cooperation IDB are social and economic financed through loans, either at development. This category market prices or by using resources in includes a series of specific favorable conditions. instruments in case there is Loans presented a natural disaster. • Loans to Support Policy Reform: • Sovereign Guarantee Loans: IDB Provide a flexible financing, liquid offers financing to governments (expendable) to borrowing and to controlled institutions by member countries of the Bank to the government to support support policy reforms and / or development and social projects. institutional changes in a certain • Loans without Sovereign sector or subsector. The country Guarantee: offers financing for and the IDB examine and agree projects from the private sector on these reforms or changes. contributing to development (IDB, • Special financing loans for 2019). development: they are designed to support borrowing countries in The Inter-American Development case of a macroeconomic crisis Bank (IDB) currently has three and thus mitigate effects on categories of funding for public sector economic and social progress of depending on the objectives the countries (IDB, 2019).
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Technical cooperation of institutions in the developing countries. It is determined according The IDB finances programs of to the area of activity where a project technique cooperation for institutional strengthening, knowledge and studies is located, and the relative level of transfer , including diagnoses, development of the region, country or reinvestment studies and sectors that countries involved. support the formulation and project The program may adopt one of the preparation. The programs can be following characteristics: aimed at country-specific projects or for trade, integration or regional • Technical cooperation with initiatives. financing non-refundable: it is a subsidy that the Bank grants to a Technical cooperation non-refundable country for their technical programs can be (donations), cooperation activities. This repayable (loans), or contingent modality is mainly used for less recovery (refundable if the program developed countries in the region, gets additional financing). or for those with insufficient Member countries with an income financial markets. relatively low per capita are eligible to • Technical cooperation with receive financing from Fund for Contingent-Recovery Resources: Special Operations (FSO), the soft finances technical cooperation loan window from the bank. This fund was established in 1960 in order to activities where there is a make loans concessional (in favorable reasonable chance of obtaining a conditions) to certain projects and for loan from the Bank or from specific projects. another financial institution. If the beneficiary must obtain a loan Types of technical from another source for the cooperation programs project for which it has been awarded a technical cooperation, The Bank finances technical the borrower must repay the cooperation for transferring funds received from the Bank. knowledge and skills that complement and consolidate technical capacity
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• Technical cooperation with window of soft loans at the Bank. refundable resources: it is Guatemala has had an economic basically of a loan financed by the growth that had an economic growth IDB to carry out technical that ascend to another category, cooperation activities(IDB, 2019). being out of the FSO/ IDB loans.
• In the particular case with The World Bank (WB) presented the update on the classification of Guatemala, the IDB has worked countries by income level. Guatemala on various technical cooperation rose to the income medium high activities and financing. threshold, with a gross domestic For the IDB Group strategy 2017– product (GDP) per capita of US $ 4 2020 for Guatemala, the active thousand 60. According to data from portfolio of loans approved was US $ the WB (2018). 790 million, executing 701 projects, for The country is at a position 68 of 188 the benefit of the sectors: reform / countries in positions that bring it modernization of the State, education, closer to countries like Costa Rica, transport, health, social investments Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Turkey and and water and sanitation. Following China, who offer infrastructure with the line of research for the services, health, stable transportation environment sector, the IDB has and education. (elPeriódico, 2018). allocated US $ 50 million, German Cooperation corresponding to Water and Sanitation Sector (Inter-American Bank Deutsche Development, 2019). Gesellschaft für The Guatemalan State, according to Internationale the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Zusammenarbeit —GIZ— the project growth in 2019 3.4% for In 2013, Guatemala became one of the national economy (Diario de the first four countries in the world to Centro América, 2018). adopt a framework law on adaptation to climate change to improve their To be eligible to receive financing response to consequences of climate from Fund for Special Operations change. In which the GIZ supports (FSO), member countries must have with activities in three priority thematic per capita an income relatively low areas agreed by the Governments of and able to access to the Guatemala and Germany:
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 mentioned: 1) Democratic governance with equal rights • Promotion of Biodiversity and 2) Education Climate Change Monitoring in the region of Selva Maya, whose goal 3) Environment and adaptation to is to implement coordinated climate change mechanisms at the regional level GIZ International Services (GIZ IS) is to monitor biodiversity and climate currently present in Guatemala with a change in the region of Maya project financed by the European Forest and its results will be Union (EU) to support the regional mostly used in policy formulation. economic integration. Various of the This project is carried out through projects were established as regional the Central American Integration and mainly rotate around the System on a global budget of: US prevention of youth violence, $ 5.52 million. strengthening conservation of • Promotion of renewable energy protected areas, promoting small and and energy efficiency in Central medium companies as well as America (4E III by its initials in renewable energies. spanish) Renewable energy and energy efficiency in Central One of the projects related to the America III, Energy Efficiency Agenda 2030 is outlined in the and Renewable Energy in Central institutional strengthening of the America III. The value of global planning authority, in this case project is: US $ 18.95 million with working with Segeplán, in the a current project: US $ 4.41 monitoring of implementation and million. national application of the priorities of development established in the • Assessment and risk Agenda 2030. This project consists of management for cases of climate a global budget of US $ 1,214,064 change (loss and damage), million destined to technical whose objectives the of the cooperation in strengthening de German cooperation for Segeplán (GIZ, 2019). Development (CD) and its international organizations There have also created various associated who have cooperation projects by GIZ (2019) at demonstrated concepts action the regional level of which may be guides on assessment and risk
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management for its use in regions It should be noted that the programs that are strongly affected by and projects sponsored by GIZ, climate change. suspended the budget execution when the region in this case
Guatemala, is in electoral period, • German Contribution to Climate since changes in government Program of the European Union influence in programs are currently in in Latin America (EUROKLIMA +). or on the lines of action mapped out
with local governments.
3.3.2 Institutional Sectors
Diagram Number 2 National government institutions that intervene in a manner and/ or indirect in international cooperation processes
•Reimbursable cooperation MINFIN
SEGEPLA •Donations (technical, financial and in-kind) N
•Official communication abroad MNEX
Source: IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales, con base en documento proporcionado por la Unidad de Cooperación Internacional del MARN (2019).
According to the director of functionality and cooperation, international cooperation from Marn, Segeplán and the Minex[…] because María Mercedes Aguilar (2019) two Segeplán sees all the regulatory part entities are very important within the of how should be all the processes process: and mechanisms of access for funds and we have to adjust ours to They give us guidelines for the policies that Segeplán goes
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 giving year to year, because The state of Guatemala established in sometimes they are changing. And the Article 14 of Decree number 114- the Minex tells us how should that 97, Executive Body Law (1997), which communication be among the is the competence of the Segeplán cooperators. formulate for knowledge and approval It should also be mentioned that, from the President and in consultation according to María Elba Méndez, with the Ministries of State, the state undersecretary from IC Conred the responsible entities and other public relationship between Minex and sector organizations: policies and other institutions are carried out as programs of international follows: cooperation, as well as prioritize, In this sense, I would like to manage, negotiate, administer and comment that by the Ministry of contract, by delegation of competent Foreign Relations, they also request authority, non-refundable financial us information to be able to conform cooperation belonging from a national table and participate international organizations and foreign several institutions and they also governments that be granted for the ask us what needs as an institution realization of projects of common we have; and of course if they are interest and coordinate its execution. needs as an institution it is for In addition, it prioritizes, manages, benefit of the whole country, they negotiates, manages and hires, by ask us that we could receive or delegation from the competent offer, generally it is an exchange of authority, non refundable financial experiences or from lessons learned cooperation belonging from that we can exchange with countries international organizations and foreign that they request, also some specific governments that be granted to the training. (2019) country for the realization of projects
of common interest (Segeplán, 2015). The GeneraL Secretariat of Planning of the Presidency Ministry of Environment (SEGEPLAN) and Natural Resources (MARN) Segeplan has the leading role in the formulation of policies and plans and It was created by Decree No. 90- develop programs and projects of 2000 of the Congress of the international cooperation. Republic, it corresponds to 261
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formulate and execute the policies response to high pollution of rivers, regarding its branch, and Fulfill and especially the Motagua River, which enforce conservation, protection, for the State of Guatemala was sustainability and improvement of the becoming in an international problem, environment and natural resources in due to the contamination that reached the country and human rights to a Honduras. balanced ecologically and healthy environment, this one should prevent In this situation, MARN implemented contamination too of the environment, the Biobardas that consist in an decrease environmental deterioration alternative barrier (trap) made to stop and loss of natural heritage (MSPAS, waste and larger debris, washed away 2013). from the upper basin of the rivers to The main function of MARN lies in the middle and lower parts. They have being the governing body of the a fairly simple structure: environmental sector, with the It consists of placing rows of bottles function of designing, establish, placed in a circular shape, leaving in execute and supervise the national the center, alternatively, a full bottle and sectoral environmental policy. It is of water or sand perfectly closed for the entity of the public sector stabilize the fence. These rows of specialized in environmental matters bottles are placed in the center of the and natural goods and services of the mesh, which is closed with the tie, public sector. with a tie similar to the dog tooth Within the Ministry is the Unity of stitch. The rows of bottles are International Cooperation, which organized, placing them nozzles with works from 2001. Its main function is nozzles; following row, bottom to to “manage before cooperating bottom. The fence will have the length entities and international that is require (according to the width organizations, cooperation technique of the river) to be able to tie both sides prioritizing, above all, the non- of its banks (MARN, 2018). refundable cooperation” (Aguilar, 2019). It should be noted that the Economic World Forum has promoted it as a tool The Biobardas created by Guatemala as an example for the world. Biobardas, among others, are a
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Ministry for Foreing governance, including national Affairs (Minex) platforms; accountability in
Minex is responsible of external management disaster risk; the need relations and agreements, covenants of preparing to "rebuild better"; and other arrangements with others recognition of the interested parties States and with international and their functions; mobilization of organizations. In the underwriting of investments that have in account the international instruments are taken into risks in order to prevent consideration equally the bilateral emergencies of new risks; the arrangements that confer formalization resilience of the sanitary of international cooperation to other infrastructure, of cultural heritage institutional entities such as Minfin (The and places of work; strengthening Ministry of Finance) and Segeplan of the international cooperation (Segeplán, 2011). and work global alliances and National Coordinator elaboration of donor policy and for the reduction of programs that may take into Disasters (Conred) account risks, including loans and financial support provided by Law Decree 109-96 gave international financial institutions life to this institution, creating the legal, […]. (UN, 2015). scientific and technical framework to coordinate, plan, develop and execute actions aimed to reduce disaster- It should also be mentioned that the causing effects on society as well as to Sendai's framework states that it is avoid the construction of new risks, very important to involve the private through prevention actions (SICA, sector within the chore with the 2012). State. "Although it is true, the State has to seek welfare and everything The Conred is governed through the of the population, the private sector Framework Sendai for Risk Reduction is very important because they are of Disasters 2015-2030. the first answer at the moment that The Sendai Framework states the something is wrong and from there it following: the need to understand better is working a strategy, which is for disaster risk in all its dimensions public-private partnerships where relative to exposure, the vulnerability Conred also works hand in hand ” and characteristics of the threats; (Méndez, 2019), as indicated by strengthening of the disaster risk 263
Environmental Management in Guatemala: the state dimension and contribution of international cooperation representatives of cooperation from The commonwealths shall respond to such institution. a metropolitan plan, because they form a global objective of a Regional
Urban Development Plan, instrument Commonwealth management for the most appropriate Gran Ciudad del Sur use of the territory. One way to approach local Among its lines of action is to promote governments is through the sustainable economic development of Commonwealth, in this case, during the southern region of the Department the investigation was established from Guatemala, strengthening the communication with representatives of capacities of the affiliates the Commonwealth that is formed by municipalities, with support from the six municipalities in the South of the Public Sector, Private Sector, Banks Department from Guatemala: Development and Local and Amatitlán, Mixco City, San Miguel international Community. (Gran Petapa, Santa Catarina Pinula, Villa ciudad del sur, 2018). Canales and Villa Nueva.
Map Number. 4 Map of the location of Gran Ciudad del Sur
Source: Mancomunidad Gran Ciudad del Sur (2018).
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1. Experiences in environmental temporal, intercultural, institutional, management in Guatemala cooperation etc.) (Retolaza, 2010). This fundamental fact has a direct "Since last year (2018),it has impact on processes of development been adapted to the project and social change within the portfolio from abroad to our own needs as a country and say where Guatemalan State, in which are involved actors of the international it has to be projected the investment; It has not been an system such as IDB, Aecid, Giz, WB; easy way because it's a tired also from institutional ones like chore, exhaustive, involving many actors including state, and MARN, MEM, Minex, Segeplán,
because it is not only a function of Conred, and local governments. MARN as a rector entity of the This is due, in part, to a fundamental environment; the environmental system is transversal, and must issue: since future is something they
involve other institutions from the haven't experienced in actuality government like Minex, Segeplán, (beyond experiencing it abstractly) MEM, CONAP, among others ” (Aguilar, 2019). they don't have that experience of
future life installed in themselves. In this sense, the implementation of the
Agenda linked to the SDGs, it exists in From 2015, for the international the collective imaginary as a viable community is a year with new instrument which, when applied, will challenges, in which, for Sawyer have positive results that can be (2005) and Waldorp (1992) reflected in country's indicators. From "uncertainty, multiversity, the that account, the methodology to paradoxical and contradictory reach them now is embodied in the dynamics rule of our (inter) actions Implementation Strategy of the NDPs; and configuration emerging from our However, such a roadmap already societies, their States and principals existed don´t guarantees that results institutions”cited by (Retolaza, 2010). are the expected by the same imaginary. However, we live in dynamic times and complexes that thrive on For this reason, in this part of the uncertainty and multiversity of research, develop a theory of Change relationships (economical, social, (ToC) provides the necessary geographic, political, cognitive, instrument to monitor the actions of the State institutions and CI in the 265
Environmental Management in Guatemala: the state dimension and contribution of international cooperation environmental sector. The systematic iii) (re) define new strategies that help use of a ToC (by its initials in spanish) to face operationally and better as a monitoring instrument as a mentioned in the previous points process of helping: i) (des) learn and (Retolaza, 2010). be constantly attentive to review and In that order of ideas, taking up the update the assumptions from which reflections exposed in the first part of the ToC is initially configured; ii) the research published in 2018, you reread the context and weigh whether can determine three central points that the conditions of change established were seen conditioned by the initially remain or if the context, international context, forcing to emerging and complex, it forces to establish new conditions to achieve determine new conditions; the changes expected from the new guidelines issued in 2015, these are
found in Table No. 6.
Table Number 6 Determining factors for the expected changes
2000-2015 2015 until now In 2015 the MDG agenda ends Beggining of the new SDG agenda and link of the national agenda.
The term "cooperation" was used The term "cooperation" is applied to the development"
Failure to meet the goals set to achieve The lines of action and implementation are the MDGs fixed of strategies to reach and link the SDGs with the NDP.
Source: IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales (2019).
Furthermore, this exercise of are able to incorporate a multidiversity redefining new strategies is done with of looks, opinions, assumptions, the participation of other stakeholders interests and bodies of knowledge that in the process, for which the ToC itself helps build a (more) shared vision and indicates that the quality of the democratic of reality and for exercise is multiplied due to that: i) we consequent of the change process in which we are embarked and that 266
Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 affects us and another in the same In this phase part of the methodology and in a different way; ii) the same act was applied that proposes a theory of of incorporating actors of diverse change, in this case the chain of identity and political positioning makes results leading to specific exercise help in the political process representations, in particular to those of reaching agreements of who describe in more detail the coordinated action from the different plans of the change, its construction (and negotiation) of agents and causal pathways. shared meanings (Retolaza, 2010). Sometimes those representations show the contextual factors that drive Generally, the ToC focuses in or hinder change as well as the analyzing and proposing actions assumptions in which this is based pertaining to transformative changes, (necessary conditions for it to work but more complex in nature and that they they escape to the control of the demand from us, flexible logic executors). thinking action. In today's environment, three changes The main actors in which is focused proposed by the model, the one that the research were the institutions best fits to the characteristics of government and donors and that, from cooperation and institutions in the chain of results, you can analyze Guatemala is transformative change; the actions on which they have which proposes the following: focused their job. It should be noted Crisis and stagnation prepare the that the ToC has as a final objective, ground for change. This type of measure the impact that they have change is based on unlearning and to had in plans or projects; however in get rid of those mentalities, this case a impact assessment was relationships, identities, formal and not feasible because only part of the non-formal institutions, etc. that methodology was applied, in addition hinder probabilities of crystallization to not having statistical data updated of new fairer realities and equitable in and the minimum temporality (five political terms, social and economic years, from implementing a program […] prevailing a logic of thought or project), to carry out the same as flexible and fluid. (Retolaza, 2010). this was a more general review about stocks and not about a specific program.
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Likewise, Cinthya Sandoval, in charge The Guatemalan State, within its of Link Systems of Conred pointed out regulations, contemplated in the the following as the monitoring Article 8 of the Law Protection and process: Improvement of the Environment, which anyone who wants to do any Follow-up, monitoring and evaluation, project, work, industry or other it is carry out by we, (three), each one activity, which due to its works on it. What we do to tracking characteristics may cause and monitoring is through the project deterioration of natural resources, true, as presented by the official have the obligation to present an channel, is previously known […]. The environmental impact study; hence results are reviewed and through the the need of study authorization of results that are being followed up: environmental impact for the exercise What actions, what meetings are of any human action that can cause required? to be able to reach the wear on the environment (Galán, project and normally as institution we 2017). facilitate to all, the actions that are Referring to the above, it is important required for the NGO can carry out its to note that the Guatemalan work, it is the monitoring based on legislation contemplates studies of results. environmental impact, and in the Then we have the evaluation that this Article 3, number 38 of the evaluation process has been Regulations of Evaluation, something that has been worked until Environmental Control and these two years. Evaluation as such, Monitoring, indicates that they consist as an institution it is not performed; of any significant alteration, positive or but because the Cooperation was negative, from one or more starting to go down due to environmental speakers, caused by international crisis issues, it was action of man or natural phenomena necessary that as an institution in a defined area of influence. demonstrate the fact that it was Mention should also be made, for part important for the country as issue of of government institutions, at the International Cooperation and interview stage they indicated that following that began to be evaluated each of them has its own statistical through of baselines. At the beginning data, its monitoring and evaluation of of a project NGOs have an obligation projects, However, work has not been to do some previous research to be achieved in the impact study as such. 268
Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 In addition, the representative of Aecid end of the project how is it. […] We and the IDB indicated the following, have very close contact with the regarding to project monitoring: donor, let's see for example comes the European cooperation , there is Every project that is proposed has a the NGO, we come on by Conred, we matrix, with the results of visited the community worked and as development, activities related to a result of that, we already have some them, indicators and sources of learning we do a monthly meeting at verification; if not, there is no project the end of the day (2019). and it is a root of the same to follow On its part, the cooperating sector up. […] There are two kinds of indicated that they do all this monitoring: the economic through monitoring process, follow-up and audits and evaluations through of evaluation of the projects, because it relevance from its approach, how it serves as indicators and, furthermore, has been raised, how it has been they need to report the results to their developed (2019). countries, and at the national level, In this document was carried out an Segeplán. approach to the evaluation of actions In respect of measuring the impact, that the State has implemented for the Norbert Rose GIZ representative use of international cooperation in the argued that: environment sector, starting from a That is the challenge, I think, from all new concept that predictively allows to donors; show impacts. It is a identify and foresee the effects that challenge for us, the projects, the will manifest later, at the beginning of majority they are always three years the activity that provokes them; this old; after three years still no impact, kind of impact is the potential it's an experience. In addition, we environmental impact, understood as: must define what concrete impacts “the positive effect or negative latent are, for example the issue of solid with probability of occurrence that waste is something that we all could cause a project, work, industry produce, and what do we do with or activity on the physical, biological them, how we treat them or how we and human environment, which can minimize them. That is what at the be defined in approximation, by virtue end we are interested in. (2019) of the consideration of environmental risk or either from a project, work,
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Environmental Management in Guatemala: the state dimension and contribution of international cooperation industry or similar activity that is políticas del país con la nueva agen- already in operation ” (Galán, 2017). da, sería todo un reto. In that sense and based on work of instruments signed and ratified the field carried out, the action of the implementation of new national actors involved, from schematic regulations, establishment of priorities models that the ToC proposes to and new conditions to manage visualize the connection between financing. agents, their main roles, determining factors and obstacles; that has led them to redefine their strategies and "The road map is already so make the results visible. there, the environment and climate change belongs to Experiences from the Guatemalan everyone and not only from State the public sector, also from the private sector; and this is a great challenge. Only the As it has been developed in the previous chapters, the year 2015 has State can't solve the problem" (Rose, 2019). been a turning point that leads the lines of action of the States to the fulfillment of the SDGs. Behind the result of the MDGs, which were As part of the same demands and negatives for Guatemala, and even responsibilities acquired with the had setbacks for the environmental commitment to fulfill the SDGs, the sector, being obvious poor Guatemalan State saw the necessity administration and management of to adhere the goals established within actions aimed to solve the main the new international agenda, to the problems for the country. With this, national plan; according to its needs the linking of country policies with the and capabilities. This new context new agenda would be quite a achieved that at least the State will challenge. advance in the design and planning of the roadmap, and the importance of Guatemala has signed several the inter-institutional linkage of the agreements and international government, the population and the conventions that required the cooperating sector as you can see in Diagram Number.3.
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Diagram Number 3 Linking Strategies of the Guatemalan State with the SDGs
Source: IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales con datos obtenidos del trabajo de campo de la investigación.
Previously, a diagram is shown of government institutions align to these, implementation changes of new evidencing themselves in their AOP Guatemalan State strategies in order and in the public policies that will to achieve mitigate problems that develop. hinder the sustainable development of However, following the chain of results the country. The graph shows how presented by the theory to know the strategies execution have been change generated about the situation designed and based on the National behind the goals raised, an evaluation Plan Development, from this is sought of impact must be made that are as a product the linkage of the derived from products contrasted with legislation and country priorities with the goals of the project, program or the SDGs and the international policy. However, this requires a agenda, that is reflected in the K´atun baseline and results of previous 2032; and as a result of this, the evaluations determined by the unit evaluator, which is generally based on strategy implementation of the NDP monitoring every and the obligation that
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Environmental Management in Guatemala: the state dimension and contribution of international cooperation two years from a policy that has been enforce a number of standards implemented with a minimum of five established to ensure establishment years. and maintenance of common good. Also, these standards are quite stiff It is here, the main obstacle to know and difficult to change in the time. the results of progress and the impact, Guatemalan Government institutions since non-unification and update of that have addressed environmental statistical data in national level and issue, present characteristics in temporality of raised policies does not common regarding what to do within allow as such, an evaluation of the its functions, evidencing a series of indicators from that account, being obstacles. able to measure the impact of the implemented actions by the Following this line, a ToC model in government. Diagram No. 4, where that relationship is established between obstacles and Management experiences from determining factors of institutional the institutions action. Efforts were made to integrate and make a common denominator of For Durkheim, institutions are the responses obtained by people of mechanisms of social order and the institutions who could be cooperation that try to normalize the interviewed. behavior of a group of individuals (which can be reduced or match with Criteria for receiving an entire society). The institutions in cooperation in the this sense, transcend individual wills country by identifying with imposition of a purpose in theory considered as a Regarding the line that governs the social good, that is: its operating processes to grant cooperation to the mechanism varies widely in each country, by MARN it was determined case, although highlights the the following: development of numerous rules or norms that are usually little flexible It is something that we have and moldable (Federation of Teaching discussed with many colleagues, of CC. OO. from Andalusia, 2009). Segeplán never we have never been conditioned by that part which is the These are usually based on Cooperation because each institution mechanisms that in turn comply and has its own goal, way of
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 operationalize, what they do is to give here are the needs of the country and us, regulations, guidelines that we must follow to follow up at the national not the needs of the cooperator. You level. […] The cooperating part is very must have enough character for that interesting because in recent years […]. Why there are a lot of we have been part, possibly we've cooperators who, if you have told not had a mindset of prioritization to them no, for the same reason, that is be able to say where we have to not according to the interests of the address our resources, but, from that country and what we seek to do in year we have succeeded to have a case of a loan and what are the significant progress because we've agencies that contribute the most in already had discussions and creating the environment area within the studies that can give us criteria of country. (2019). investment […] The Cooperation in In the case of the Conred, they recent years has presented its receive cooperation at the time of portfolio of projects and we, under disasters natural, the way in which it need of having to fulfill our national work is as follows: objectives we are adapting that portfolio from abroad to our own Selection criteria, first that we needs. (Aguilar, 2019). institutionally have are the In this sense, it can be seen an prioritization of projects […] we are advance by the institutions because based on the comprehensive they are putting the country priorities management of risks, we are guided ahead, and not an agenda imposed by the Comprehensive Risk by IC. Gabriel Velásquez, head of Management Policy that are currently planning energy-mining MEM also created in 2001, you need to do some emphasized in the following: changes but currently we continue This is a super important topic guiding the actions mentioned in this because I have told a lot of policy then through this prioritization of cooperators, that I will not mention but projects that national policy is aligned here are the closed doors because if we request to the cooperators so they they come to me to impose something can do projects oriented to these on me, better than go away because lines.
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So not only help us to be able to Lack of resources and loss of promote our actions as Conred, we capable personnel also comply with all the actions that Lack of financial resources prevents we already made. (Phefunchal, 2019). hiring more staff to meet the needs […] and this affects the ability to apply So not only help us to be able to routine procedures to give you a promote our actions as Conred, we monitoring of environmental also comply with all the actions that instruments approved (Galán, 2017). we already made. (Phefunchal, 2019). The people of the Commonwealth,
explained a specific case about their work experience with the IDB:
"I don't understand the With the IDB they have bought us a processes with Segeplán, they are super complicated things team to strengthen municipal for an Electrical engineer, as offices of planning, there is a well as a cooperation weakness regarding training and have to follow a bureaucratic rotation of human resources, not process, for me it is more true what I'm doing in my work. Yes, only in the municipal government it is very hard for me to but also in the State, in its understand the processes and institutions, which sometimes it to me are things that are extra, limits or stop what we have done the truth is that I can't find sense I am a super technical with a certain dynamic of work and person and one plus one is two then they change our staff, whether and my especially it's municipal or central government, electrical, so for me if delaying processes and does not it works is fine and all the processes are too much, but if allow continuity of the staff […] and not are followed you have to again you have to retrain to the pay fines to Comptroller ”. human resource. (Thomas, 2019) (Velásquez, 2019) The institutional budget is very limited, the problem is that the trained personnel are about to retire
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Politics and Society Magazine – Investigation Reports – 2019 and the institutions do not have a capture all that information, political disbursement of the State to train the situations change of government, new generations, so there is a leak of authority profile (Aguilar, 2019).It is knowledge that are not transmitted to fair to mention that many times politics the new staff because there is no also slows us down international aid school of training within institutions (Thomas. 2019). For this, the State (Thomas, 2019). must not only implement the norms This topic is one in which all according to such objective but to interviewees agreed. Has been one of have a strong institutional structure, the main obstacles because there is which guarantees compliance with no institutionalization of knowledge, environmental standards. the little trained personnel that the Many of IC's projects are conditioned cooperation has, lose at the moment to the political situation of the country, of the beginning of a new government, although the projects have been which forces them to back off in their approved, their execution stops every processes because they must begin four years waiting what the guidelines again to train the new personnel. will be with the new government and Another concrete example, from the the new staff that enters into the community, is that "many institutions. municipalities have middle offices of environment but many times, who is Updated data doing the homework environment, is a At the computer level there are common and current worker, that is difficulties since the database not capacitated”. (Thomas, 2019) instrument and environmental data is The country’s political situation not constantly updated, does not have selection filters per environmental The political element is sometimes category, type of activity nor like the one who limits to have a lack geographical location, furthermore the of more things to do to regulate, even chronological search is very if it's a fundamental part because complicated. When data is required, there can be government authorities you need to collect them in a manual that are open to a process be way that takes a lot of time. Not regulated and more comprehensive, having certainty about the data but there are other external factors that condition that it’s not possible to 275
Environmental Management in Guatemala: the state dimension and contribution of international cooperation logging is very complicated to define While it is true, most help that follow-up actions that respond to the Guatemala receives is from technical national reality (Galán, 2017). nature, strengthening capacities and In addition, each institution has its in-kind, it is necessary that these own database, but, most of the time it amounts enter by "the official is not accessible for public but is channel". In other words, that the handled at internal level to each cooperators carry out the whole department so it´s a little bit bureaucratic process through complicated for both for the Segeplán and the institution to which cooperators, as for the academic aid will arrive. sector that requires those updated However, one of the obstacles at the data. time of doing it through the official Processes to channel the channel is the temporality. The Cooperation process takes too long and it's too slow, so many cooperators prefer to Another important and necessary do it directly or, through an NGO. This topic emphasis is on the process represents for the country, a loss of through which the country receives information because there isn´t a the IC. record of all projects who arrive in the country in a direct way.
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Guatemala
Diagram Number 4 Diagram
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IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales con datos obtenidos del trabajo de campo de la investigación.
Source:
Change Theory on environmental management from the Institutions of the Institutions from management onChange Theory environmental
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Management experiences from nor in two or three, because it has the cooperators been a topic that has been cast aside in the whole historical and political About Guatemalan legislation processes of country” (Aguilar, 2019). However, it has, within the legal Within the experiences of the framework several policies that to give cooperators who are working on the you the correct monitoring and Country, have expressed their implementation, would achieve enthusiasm to be able to contribute and significant changes in the country. An develop programs in Guatemala, and example of this is the Agreement 236 highlighted that within the positive on treatment plants and wastewater. factors is the Guatemalan legislation on environmental issues. "The country has a fairly solid and rich relationship that has For this Omar Samayoa, representative many laws and regulations; of IDB stressed that "The country has a another thing is if they are fairly solid and rich relationship that has being applied”(Samayoa, many laws and regulations; another 2019).
thing is if they are being applied ”(2019). However, to the extent that the Furthermore, when aligning the donor municipalities fail to comply with this agendas can be align without much Agreement, good percentage of the difficulty. "When we have prepared problem remains stagnant. According proposals for support access to to Pilar Montero from Aecid, a financing the issue of the political and treatment plant represents an expense legal framework it has a lot of wealth to assume that urban centers are not which makes it relatively easy to align it prepared for it. with and it's an advantage. Guatemala has others challenges such as inclusion Although there are regulations to which is a complex issue ”(Samayoa, comply with, but there is a gap 2019). between technique capacity to assume it by doing it and how socially As mentioned earlier, although it is true, deal with it so they can't be Guatemala has great wealth in terms of permanently subsidized, can be laws, there is no water law yet reason partially subsidized, can be social why “the water problem from here to one rates or difference between the public or three years, neither in a government, and private sector and there should be 278
Environmental Management in Guatemala: the state dimension and contribution of international cooperation l
a different pricing policy for private use many they will connect to the plant. and industrial use but cannot be fully the topic of plants is an art, treating subsidized because it would be wastewater, the management system unsustainable (2019). of integral water for collection and its The IDB has also had cooperation use […] That concept is difficult that technique to make a diagnosis on municipalities understand it, how treatment plants, "because everyone should be the management system of knows it's a problem but when we talk integral water, if ut doesn't work, any about data does not exist” (Samayoa, investment goes bankrupt, and 2019). Guatemala is a country that cannot take that luxury that your investments Furthermore, it was argued that the after five or six years, they don't work. topic is very complex and expensive, (Rose, 2019). “this topic is very unattractive, politically speaking. Implement an Lack of political and infrastructure is necessary and It is individual will very expensive. The solutions are By the time of implement water and expensive but the topic also, as more sanitation programs, that is one of time passes, it becomes more those that have been working for the expensive. Likewise, political will is past years the IC has encountered required” (Samayoa, 2019). certain obstacles like lack of political In GIZ's experience, they have also and individual will. developed diagnoses of the territory Cooperators of GIZ, Aecid and IDB, on the plants installed, but they have make a country strategy that match found many of them poorly built and every new government and after four not working, with technical errors. years of implementation of strategies It was a surprise for us because you that evaluates the impacts it has had lose a lot of money; those plants are on country's development indicators, expensive or oversized for the according to each government. "We try that they coincide sometimes it population. The census right now is gets out of date a little bit, but in an issue for municipalities that don´t general it matches” (Samayoa, 2019). have plant, they need to know how many people do they have and how
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It is not only the political aspect, the to have regulations more severe that one that limits the development of the require building based on drinking and projects. According to the waste water ” (Henry, 2019). representative of Aecid, it is more difficult to work in the rural than in the The Guatemalan model is still mostly urban. What has the rural sector, is rural and urban nuclei are growing that, if they have a high will, but they very fast, there are no services or don´t have facility to pay, and in the urban planning for attend them. Also, it urban there is payment capacity, but a is very difficult to make a change of low will; and that is one of the big consciousness and even more so in problems both for the sustainability of the short term. (Montero, 2019) drinking water and sanitation (Montero, 2019). In this problem, the cooperators noted that "if the alternatives of territorial In addition to this, the representative ordering that people pose are not of IDB argued that big parts of the being taken, we are going to Collapse” people who pollute the most are those (Henry, 2019). This theme of land who have the access to resources so management (SLM) is covered is it is necessary to start to change contemplated in the roadmap to habits from every individual. achieve changes in the country, so it’s necessary to follow up and implement Territorial Plannning it.
A theme that has been a constant Untrained peronnel and leak within the obstacles encountered by of Knowledge IC is the lack of territorial order in the country, despite that PNOT (by its One of the great limitations exposed initials in Spanish) exists, which from institutions and that cooperators makes a difficult execution of again emphasize is on the leak of projects and that they reach to all the trained personnel they have. people who most need it. The fact of not having a career in the "We must face the issue of territorial public sector has limited that people planning and mainly the cadastre so can stay for longer periods of time that people know, if we don´t change the are needed to not only have regulations we are going to have a experience but follow up on to the collapse in a very short time, we have implementation of certain processes
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Environmental Management in Guatemala: the state dimension and contribution of international cooperation l together; that combination that Faced with this problem, between one transform into capacity (Samayoa, of the main findings founded in this 2019). research, has been the creation of a national platform that it is being According to Norbert Rose, on the developed by Segeplán and GIZ. subject of treatment plants, there are much lack of internal capabilities We have created with Segeplán, since the technicians don't feel in MARN, MAGA, INAP (by its initials in trained conditions, and many times spanish), a database, on territorial are plumbers who are in charge of data, which allows to calculate seeing the supply of the water and vulnerability index from each plant maintenance; when this municipality to the climate change. It requires a person formed and is a platform which is going to be someone who knows how to handle public […] I think it's a culmination of it (2019). what we've come working from the grassroots, a national platform tool, With the rotation of trained which will allow you to monitor how personnel, IC has had several much money has been reversed, the limitations when working and rates of vulnerability, changes in implementing the projects, since Projects. Guatemala would be one of they need to start the process of the first countries to implement it. capacity building and technification (Rose, 2019) of the staff again. It can be said then, that the main Updated data and disarticulation impediments to which The IC has had between institutions to face are: the non-existence of a Disarticulation of activities in public function, a career or different public sectors is a very institutionalization of knowledge, a strong limitation and a big lack of politics will, social problematic, in addition that each commitment, technical capacity; in public institution has its own addition to events unforeseen like database, often out of date (Rose, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, 2019). hurricanes, the country is vulnerable to those events.
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Diagram Number 5 Theory of Change on environmental management from cooperators
Source: IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales con datos obtenidos del trabajo de campo de la investigación.
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RESULTS
The lack of updated and dispersed data was the starting point for the co-consolidation of an inter- institutional work table for the creation of the platform that allows measuring the resources of the projects and the impact in the medium term.
From this, the unification of strategies for the implementation of national development priorities is created
With the strategic development goals (MED), its constituted the strategic framework to which the institutional, operational and territorial planning must be aligned. This is reflected from 2018, linking the SDGs, Plan Kátun, in an articulated and strategic way in the institutional AOP.institutional AOP.
The execution, monitoring and evaluation of these actions will be conditioned by determining factors such as the political situation in the country, rotation of trained personnel, and the budget allocation to the environmental sector. In addition to being an essential change in attitudes, awareness from the cooperation sector, State and civil society.
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Diagram Number 6 Theory of Change on the link between cooperation and institutions
Source: IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales con datos obtenidos del trabajo de campo de la investigación.
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Management experiences from the Academy knowledge of diversity and natural wealth of Guatemala and The university is the intended Mesoamerica, under which it is institution to higher education and that published Guatemala's Environmental provides an academic specialization Profile, indicating under constant and technique according to the branch investigations, the impacts that are of know developed. In Guatemala being generating and what remains to there is only one public university, be done. It should be noted that the which has the initiative of law; and a last publication in the profile was until number of private universities which, 2012, however, according to the while true, they do not have the same interview with the institution indicated benefit, they have managed to that at the end of this year would be influence policies with studies presenting the updated profile. conducted within their study houses; in this case related to the environment “Since last year it has been highlighted the University Rafael Landívar (URL that research topics and the lines of by its initials in spanish) and the work must be seen on the environment University of the El Valle de side. Now with the new environmental Guatemala (UVG by its initials in policy from the university (USAC) they spanish) they have evidenced the force all investigators staff that all its advancement and the direct link with subjects turn on the environment” the institutions of government and (Ruch, 2019). cooperating agents. While the line of research and action As you can see in the previous have been framed to the above diagram, universities as an academic mentioned, it has not indicated that sector have functions that contribute there is a link with all academic units, to the development of the country, but these lines of support and research they also have determinants factors have been awarded mainly to the and obstacles that break the progress technical careers such as engineering in the links, government-university, and faculties that can offer with their university-cooperating agent. research salable innovations for the environmental sector. Unlinked in an The URL, through its institute of implicit way to social humanistic research IARNA has been linked and careers. In words of a representative take the baton in characterization and of the Office
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in words of a representative of the knowledge and conservation of Green Office of the Directorate- biodiversity of the country. But it is General of Administration from the believed that it can be expanded more USAC, it is evident as described research on this theme. (Ortiz, 2019) above: […] International cooperation focuses "The university does have on two thematic axes, security and researchers, in which the DIGI (by its justice as the biggest that receive initials in spanish), engineering, more funds from each portfolio from agronomy, Chemistry and countries that are working to Pharmaceutical Sciences have a pull Guatemala level and the second, that are dedicated to the investigation development, practically of productive of various issues between biological projects but that do include in some biodiversity, climate change, security projects as a cross axis the question food, among other topics" (Asencio, environmental. (Ortiz, 2019) 2019). Cooperation has been a tool that has In the interview with the deputy alleviated the problems of Guatemala, director of the Iarna, the actions that however, the universities have been have been carried out in the thematic: guided and they have taken advantage Iarna sees cooperation positively, of cooperation depending on their basically this institution has always ideological and considered affinities. cooperated and has been beneficial But still, there is not such a link and for the research that performs and to cooperation government-academic generate the information the country sector that allows to research centers needs as management of basins, with trained personnel support and link development rural situation, health to elaboration of public policy that situations, change climate, forest have an academic support and based situation, it has been beneficial but it on evidence it is possible to measure has always been managed the needs and generate specific transversely, not as the focus itself, indicators that allows to measure the until the investigation of biodiversity impact. that has as an objective the scientific
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Diagram Number 7 Theory of Change on environmental management from the Academy
Academic Main Determining factors and Sector Functions obstacles
. Direct, organize and develop superior education of the State of Guatemala, USAC as well as promote research, study and - profitability and investment of research . solution of national problems. - - Lack of a multidisciplinary relationship. - - Importance of public-private alliances - promote scientific-critical research on the and cooperating sector. current situation of the natural - - Academic impact for formulation of environment, generating knowledge to explain the role of the natural environment - public politics. URL-IARNA in the dynamics of the society-nature interaction and provide scientific technical support for its approach.
Establishment of lines that govern university research disqualifying the Independent Thinking Center for social research, framed in problems UVG-OES supporting the efforts of civil society, that presents v solutions the Guatemalan government, the private sector and community actors to strengthen the engagement at the national level and promote economic and social sustainable development
Source: IIPS, Área de Estudios Internacionales con datos obtenidos del trabajo de campo de la investigación.
Finally, in the Conversation held about problem of environment, but it has "Higher Education as a conservation been detected that there are several tool of the environment”, the problems, so the cooperation can participants concluded that the bigger comply their role, the problem has obstacles to solve the environmental been detected of transparency, quantity from environmental sector problems, initially is the lack of organizations that exist and coordination of public institutions, insufficient cooperation. We know the bureaucratic processes take too much importance of cooperation but we time, lack of political will, tripling know that have problems, not only efforts because there is no because of the institutional problems coordination between ministries and but environmental laws that are not International cooperation is comprehensive and the little amount necessary, due to the globality of the that can be allocated for that. (Ruch, 2019).
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Another factor that can be a problem we were dedicated to research that is is that there is not much people profitable due to the same dynamic of dedicated to research. If we do a the devaluation of projects. (Asencio, random calculation, San Carlos has a 2019). population about of 110 thousand people, within those don't focus or The availability of resources for be don't have even the forecast to say i'm able to carry out some research that going to change research using parts for example for the environmental that I already have, neither at the root area will need several observation of that, 50 people who suddenly activities, among others, and that, if graduate one is dedicated to the the researcher wanted to perform investigation. We need to be realistic, them to place them in their report, if it were from San Carlos they will need to put it from their pocket. (Hernández, 2019).
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Final reflections
Address environmental issues, in a about the environment available to country like Guatemala, is somewhat public authorities, including the complicated. As it could be seen information about materials and throughout the investigation, even the activities that may contain there are many shortcomings in this danger in their communities, as system, however they have already well as the opportunity to sat the bases and notions of change participate in the adoption have been given. It is worth noting processes of decisions. States that the country's agro-export model shall facilitate and encourage requires special care and public awareness and contemplation of the environmental participation by making theme as a transversal and vital axis information widely available. for the development, in which it must (1992). be addressed integrally the Based on the above, it is important to management of water and watershed, emphasize in one aspect that Land Management, and change of characterizes the ToC, which attitudes of each human being to the deepens in reflective practice; It is not country conditions advance. only about analyzing and identifying necessary conditions to define the According to Principle 10 of the route to follow but also to make Declaration River: explicit how to reach those The best way to deal with conclusions and what is the environmental issues is with the epistemological process by which participation of all citizens, at the these arguments are constructed and appropriate level. In national reasoning (Galán, 2019). level, every person must have For this reason, we start from the adequate access to information
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Politics and Society Magazine –Investigation Reports - 2019 premise that if these preconditions ensure a new pattern of behavior were not given, the Desired Change instead, by means of the support would never happen. These or reinforcement mechanism, in conditions revolve around changes in: such a way it becomes the new institutions, quality in relationships way. between actors, presence and action This model poses in its proposal to of certain actors, social and / or determine the problem, identify the technical capacities, collective current situation of the problem, in behaviors / organizational / individual, addition to the positive factors as attitudes, environments more negatives to achieve development of conductive (legal, operational, a strategy and thus achieve physical, cognitive, technological, changing the current situation, etc.). heading to the goal. In this case as previously addressed, while it is true To do this, based on the Kurt Lewin's both the institutions as the (2018) proposal that poses in his cooperators have found certain model, a process of three phases to obstacles at the moment to develop carry out the change planned: projects in the country, certain changes have also been evidenced, • Defrosting: implies reducing the in a slow process but that, with forces that keep the organizations dialogue and constant work between at their current level of behavior. the sectors involved, certain lights • Change or movement: Consists in can be reflected in that uncertain moving to a new state or new future of the environmental level within the organization problematic. regarding patterns of behavior Furthermore, the change in and habits, which means consciousness in each person developing new values, habits, maybe it seems a cliché, but that behaviors and attitudes. becomes relevant to be able to advance, because it is a issue that • Freezing: in this process the affects all people. "To the extent that organization is stabilized in a new individuals, groups, etc., are state of balance, in which often understanding and going through needs supporting mechanisms the mind generates its behavior, we such as culture, norms, policies can and organizational structures; 290
become aware in a term to laws, put sanctions, but everyone is understand the problem and which responsible ”(Hernández, 2019). Only are the effects of this, it is then when the human being can achieve those there could be changes ”(Samayoa, changes in addition to enlist the help 2019). of institutions and the cooperating sector to achieve significant progress For the above it can be materialized in the country. and achieve a change is considered relevant that there is an integration At the same time, it is necessary that between each sector of the country as each public, private, cooperating the cooperators pointed out “the sector, and academy work together roadmap is ready, the environment for topics that are important, such as and climate change belongs to environmental accounts, which have everyone and not only to the public left in charge of the academy (Iarna), sector, also from the private sector; the territorial ordering, the data update and this is a great challenge. Only the and investment on the research. State cannot solve the problem ” (Rose, 2019). "We need to work together with research institutes that in process, In order to develop the three stages but, the government must have their of the model proposed by Lewin, it is own research center to compile all necessary to retake the approaches that Data to be able to give more from several of the experts accurate information of the country in interviewed, that concluded in the general ”(Aguilar, 2019). Bet on same; in addition to being one of the investment in research becomes so proposals generated by the ToC, the necessary in the country, since there change of attitudes from individuals, is too little production, and in this which "it is necessary to become case, from the Academy they have aware of, because we all benefit or tried to build new knowledge; harm, so we can move forward in the However, they are only on paper and protection, preservation and it is not taken in count or articulated conservation of the environment ” within the actions of the State. (Ortiz, 2019). There is still no real consciousness "All this goes through a process of in citizens how can you live with consciousness, then we can put prevention actions and risk in the
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subject and if there is no such would be to achieve change of awareness we cannot rethought in a attitudes in each one, in the actions of change, so a real impact in the end institutions and at the level national.
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Acronyms and abbreviations
(AECID by its initials in Spanish) Spanish Agency for International Cooperation
IAS International and Area Studies
IDB Inter-American Bank Development
WB World Bank
CC Climate Change
(CONAP by its initials in spanish) The National Council on Protected Areas
(GIZ by its initials in German) German Corporation for Technical Cooperation
HDI the Human Development Index
(INAP by its initials in Spanish) National Forestry Institute
(INSIVUMEH National Institute of Seismology, by its initials in spanish) Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology
(MAGA by its initials in spanish) Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food
(MARN by its initials in spanish) Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment
(MEM by its initials in spanish) Ministry of Energy and Mines
(MINFIN by its initials in spanish) The Ministry of Finance
MDGs Millenium Development Goals
(SDO by its initials in spanish) Standard Development Organization
(NGO by its initials in spanish) non-governmental organization
(UN by its initials in spanish ) Organization of the United Nations
(OT by its initials in Spanish) Land Management
(TCO) Technical Cooperation Office
(GDP) Gross Domestic Product
(PNOT by its initials in Spanish) National Plan for Territory Observation
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
AOP Annual Operational Plan
SEEA System of Environmental-Economic Accounting
(SEGEPLAN the General Secretariat of Planning of the by its initials in Spanish) Presidency
ToC Theory of Change
(URL by its initials in Spanish) Universidad Rafael Landívar
(UVG by its initials in Spanish) Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
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