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Resiliency in a hostile environment: The comunidades agricolas of Chile's Norte Chico Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Alexander, William Lee, 1963- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 10/10/2021 21:09:27 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/284299 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter ^ce, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. 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Bell & Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 RESILIENCY IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT: THE COMUNIDADES AGRICOLAS OF CHILE'S NORTE CHICO by William Lee Alexander Copyright © William Lee Alexander 2000 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2000 UMI Number: 9992134 Copyright 2000 by Alexander, William Lee All rights reserved. UMI ® UMI Microform 9992134 Copyright 2001 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Mi 48106-1346 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ® GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by WILLIAM LEE ALEXANDER entitled RESILIENrV IN A HOSTILE ENVTROWMKNT? THE COMUNIDADES AGRICOLAS OF CHILE'S NORTE CHICO and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dr. Thomas Weavei^ Date y K (a-c)2_ [—[ d Dr. Thomas^K«rlin Park Date Dr. Richard A. Thompson Date Date Date Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requ^ement. Dissertation Director Dr. Thomas Weaver Date 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to colleagues and friends in both South and North America. In Chile, scholars and experts such as Milka Castro, Sergio Avendano, Fabian Reyes, Bernardo Contreras, Dr. Claudio Meneses, Hector Navea, Dr. Raul Meneses, and Erika Zuniga were generous with their knowledge and always imparted the gift of encouragement. My dearest appreciation goes to Agapito Santander and his family. He is a great scholar and a great friend, and his help was inestimable. My warmest feelings and endless respect go to my friends in Loma Seca. Every day was a blessing and a lesson in perseverance, patience, and good humor. At the University of Arizona, I would like to thank Dr. Richard A. Thompson and Dr. Thomas K. Park for their valuable input as this dissertation progressed and for their many contributions during my graduate studies. Thanks to Meghan Geagan for the illustration and for all of her support. My work would never have taken the path that it did were it not for the short time that I knew Dr. Daniel Nugent. He is very much missed- Finally, my most profound respect and the most thanks of all go to Dr. Thomas Weaver. His enthusiasm for his work and for great ideas is infectious, his scholarship and his commitment to making a difference in the world through anthropology is inspiring. His guidance and his faith in me during these many years have been deeply appreciated. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 9 LIST OF TABLES 10 ABSTRACT 11 CHAPTER ONE 12 The "Annus Horribilis": A Year Of Catastrophes In The Norte Chico 12 "Como Se Existe Esta Comimidad?" 19 Persistence In The Periphery And The Unit Of Analysis 25 "La Guerra Bruta" From The General To The Specific 33 Political Economy and Development: Articulated Rationality Negotiating "The Limited Good" and "The Commons" 35 CHAPTER TWO 41 Introduction 41 Initial Research and Reflections On Diversity 42 1. General Characteristics Of Comunidad sectors 46 n. The Traditional Land Tenure And Political System 56 Land Tenure, Possession, And Use Rights 56 Inheritance Of Title Of Comunero 60 Political Organization: La Directiva 62 Intra-community Relations 64 in. Origins and Historical Development 66 Mining History For Origins 66 Imagining the Past: Cowboys And Indians And Miners 72 CHAPTER THREE 76 Introduction 76 I. The Ecological Legacy Of Mining And Wheat Production 76 Mining's Impact On The Natural Environment 77 The Reverberations Of Two Wheat Booms 79 II. Property Laws, Land Reform, and Counter-Reform: Mining's Impact On The Social Environment 81 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued Codifying Claims 81 Agrarian Reform And Backlash 82 Privatization And Export Production 91 Post-Pinochet Changes 94 EH. Ecological and Socio-economic Context 97 Drought 97 Poverty 99 Conclusion 102 CHAPTER FOUR 104 Introduction 104 1. Social Forms Of Mutual Assistance: Comites 110 El Dia De Los Difuntos: When the Community Seems Most Alive 110 SeasonalAnd Permanent Changes 113 The Parral Bus And The Ferria 116 "Chamagote" And Radio Norte Verde 119 Rodeo Chileno 122 Huasos 124 La Cueca 126 Expressions Of Nationalism And Peasant Identity 128 Carreras 131 Futbol 133 ChEincho 134 n. Work-Focused Forms of Mutual Assistance 136 Bano De Ovejas 136 LaTrilla 138 Conclusion 140 CHAPTER FIVE 144 Introduction 144 I. El Arroyo: Life In The Campo Comun 146 Goats And Cheese 150 Sheep And Cordero 156 Cardon ("Puya Chilensis") 159 Christmas 160 II. Heirvesting Wheat In Loma Seca 163 III. Itinerant Seasons Of Sacrifice 170 Independence Day At San Julian 173 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued Campo Lindo And Pueblo Limari 177 Parcela48 179 LastParcela 181 Conclusion: La Guerra Bruta 184 CHAPTER SIX 187 Introduction 187 I. Family Livelihood (November 1997 - May 1999) 190 n. Household Survey 200 Group One: Mixed Production Households Harvesting Lluvias Of More Than Ten Hectares 200 Group Two: Mixed Production Households Harvesting Lluvias Of Ten Hectares Or Less 204 Group Three: Households With Lluvias But Without Goats Or Sheep 207 Group Four: Criancero Households Without Lluvias 208 Group Five: Non-Productive Households 211 Group Six: Households Living Away From The Community But Harvesting Wheat 212 III. Group Comparison 213 Conclusion: "Peasants", "Mode of Production", "Articulation" 222 CHAPTER SEVEN 233 Introduction 233 Modernization And Law 238 !Como Los Indios! 246 From Clandestine Artisans To Integrated Producers 255 Impact On Loma Seca 260 Conclusions: Of Mushrooms And Goat Cheese 263 CHAPTER EIGHT Introduction: "El Ultimo Pimto De La Cadena" 268 Peasants: Internal Stability 270 Potential For Statistical Analysis 273 The "Limited Good" And Equilibrium 277 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued Peasants: External Domination 281 Plan Punitaqui 296 From The Unidad Popular Through The Military Dictatorship: Community Experience Of The Allende And Pinochet"Experiments" 298 Previous Studies Mid 1980s — Early 1990s 302 "Communitarianism" Vs. "Individualism" Or Dialectical Relationships? 305 Supporting Systems Of Support 308 Concluding Remarks 313 REFERENCES CITED 315 9 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure I.l, Comunidades Agricolas Of Map Region FV Chile 17 Figure 2.1, Map of Eight Sectors Of Comunidades 48 Figure 2.3, Composite View Of Land Tenancy And Use 57 10 LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1, Comunidades Agricolas Of Region IV By Sector 52 Table 5.1, Family Members 149 Table 6.1, Family Production Activities Timeline 192 Table 6.2, Comparison Of Family