Ch'ixinakax utxiwa: On Decolonising Practices and Discourses

by Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui, Molly Geidel (Translator)

The Bolivian scholar and activist Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui is a pre-eminent Latin American intellectual, world renowned for her work in postcolonial and subaltern studies. She has long maintained that we must acknowledge how colonial structures of domination continue to affect indigenous identities and cultures. Even in contexts where diversity and the value of indigenous cultures have been officially recognized, "internal colonialism" operates as a structure that shapes mental categories and social practices.

This book considers this persistent colonial structure by examining artistic and popular practices of apprehending and resisting it, arguing that in Andean cultures there is a sustained practice of insubordinate image production and use. Combining this visual history with other instances of political resistance, the book offers an alternative narrative to the history of Latin American decolonisation. This narrative challenges the common conception that mestizaje (race-mixing) and hybridity are liberatory formations, offering instead a new theorisation of the complex racial configurations produced by colonialism and its afterlives.

Given Rivera Cusicanqui's vital contribution to critical epistemologies, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars throughout the humanities and social sciences and to everyone concerned with the key questions of critical theory today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, Theory, History, Politics, Academia, Spanish Literature

80 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui is an Aymara/Bolivian feminist sociologist/historian/activist. She is one of the best known ‘decolonial’ thinkers in Latin America who contests the use of the term ‘decolonial’. Her scholar activism goes back to the early 1970s. Cusicanqui has written extensively in Spanish, Quechua and Aymara, often moving between the three languages within a single text. She writes in a multilingual way as part of her decolonial practice (see below), perhaps because of this way of working, Anglo and European scholars seldom reference her as a pioneer in decolonial theory within the Global South. She is a founding member in conjunction with her students at Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (Bolivia) of the Taller de Historia Oral Andina (Andean Oral History Workshop). The taller uses Aymara and Quechua epistemologies to build counter methodologies to Western ways of doing science through oral construction of knowledge. In 2018, she was given a Doctor Honoris Causa in Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, where she was a lecturer for over twenty years. She has been a visiting lecturer at Columbia University (USA), University of Austin (USA), and Universidad Simón Bolívar (Ecuador), among others. She has been an activist in the katarista movement (political movement in Bolivia to recover the political identity of the Aymara people) and the cocoa growers movement. Rivera Cusicanqui’s work is extensive but three concepts/practices can be identified in her work.

Reviews

[Alaíde Ventura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admiró cabrón a las mujeres que entre más enojadas, más claridosas. Yo cuando me enojo lloro.

[Cardenio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considero este breve ensayo un texto necesario para pensar la descolonización en América Latina. La operación discursiva de Cusicanqui consiste en, por un lado, descentrar la narrativa teleológica del proceso de conquista en el territorio. Critica severamente la concepción occidental de tiempo lineal y plantea una lectura a contrapelo sobre el colonialismo local: las primeras rebeliones en Bolivia, lideradas por Tupac Katari, entran en sincronía con los actuales procesos infrapolíticos que emergen en América Latina. Me es inevitable pensar en nuestro estallido social como una suerte de pachakuti, en donde las jerarquías de poder se movilizan y los oprimidos disputan un lugar en la institucionalidad.

Por otra parte, Cusicanqui propone la imagen de lo ch'ixi para designar la tensión identitaria que acaece la subjetividad latinoamericana. Critica conceptos como el de transculturación, mestizaje, hibridez, aculturación, etc., en tanto se revelan como eufemismos locales improductivos para reflexionar sobre la identidad latinoamericana. Lo ch'ixi, en cambio, hace ingresar al discurso el lenguaje indígena y tensiona los binarismos clásicos como los de civilización/barbarie, civilizado/indio, dominante/dominado, etc.

Destaco, además, la interpelación de Cusicanqui a las academias. Plantea que hay un ejercicio de extractivismo crítico (desde pensadores canónicos como Mignolo) hacia el conocimiento intelectual de los mismos sujetos indígenas. Pienso que esta crítica puede ser transversal hacia los académicos pertenecientes a otras áreas del conocimiento, que instrumentalizan las identidades de grupos "minoritarios" y las transforman en objetos epistémicos indexables. Un placer leer a esta mujer.

[xelsoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Además de los valiosos recursos para pensar una sociedad decolonizada en América Latina, quiero destacar la entretenídisima y aguda crítica de Rivera Cusicanqui contra la occidentalización académica.

[Rbnerives]

(review for personal records) This was a cool book. A “Pink wave” resurgence in Latin America renders these texts especially relevant as - to stay authentic to democratic ideals - the political instruments that grew from the social movements must continue to be dictated by indigenous campesino movements such as the cocaleros of Cochabamba, the woman textile workers of El Alto, and the COB/CSUTCB more broadly. The Morales government started off with popular support from these movements, but have since been abandoned. Despite this Ingenuine connection to democratic orgs, the MAS and Morales have continued to claim their support as well as the mantle of militant democratic actors. This is not ok because it the support these movements offer must be earned, not claimed. And it must be continually earned. Any other course of action delegitimizes these essential social groups by decaying their grassroots operating structure and rewarding loyalty to the party, not people.

This book also is reminder to pay attention to semantics. Writing essay on this so will keep brief, but be conscious of language. Every time you describe a setting you are defining the legitimate actors there whether you realize or not. In many contexts, If I was to say the “Bolivian people” , there is little information provided? Who am I talking about? 99% when someone says that they are talking about the affluent white European 5% in Santa Cruz or Beni, not the actual “Bolivian people”.
…
Bolivia was a colonial project- it’s name holds no tela ende to the Quechua , Aymara, etc. Deeply interrogate the context and impact of your language less you legitimize colonial structures at the expensive of evolving indigenous futurisms.

This book is a reminder to foreign onlookers that an authentic embracing of democracy and autonomy necessitates a viewpoint that is constantly challenging even the most seemingly progressive of groups. Embracing governing bodies for their political roots when their legislating has long neglected the same values is to blindly support increasingly insulated organizations and actors. Most importantly - no matter your outlook - this book is a reminder of whose voice is most important. We can politically critique all this stuff from a perspective rooted in theory and whatnot, but all of that is irrelevant if it neglects the opinions and beliefs of those who will be most affected - Indigenous people of the Andes.

[Regina Gómez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gran crítica a la propuesta decolonial de Quijano y Mignolo.

[Carlos Campos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui nos ofrece una opción de la descolonización a partir de la práctica descolonizadora, marcando y criticando el imperio intelectual dentro del imperio de Walter Mignolo y su escuela neoprogre.

[Alejandra Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro realmente decolonial, profundamente político. Le saca la careta a Mignolo, Quijano y compañía, poniendo en foco la experiencia indígena en primera persona. Imprescindible.

[Guilherme Soares Zanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro muito interessante, uma indicação para inspirar um projeto. O exercício de olhar a colonização pelo ponto de vista dos índios (Cusicanqui rejeita termos como "indígena" e "povos originários", por adotarem o ponto de vista colonizador) é muito interessante e traz extratos imagéticos riquíssimos. Me marcou especialmente pensar na visão que o povo Inka tinha dos espanhóis, peludos como os corpos mortos que eles enrolavam com pele de alpaca. Um povo que come ouro e não respeita a hierarquia, dilacerando reis como se não fossem nada. Cusicanqui traz uma análise imagética que conta a história da linguagem ocidental, que asfixia o sentido e, como ela diz, mais oculta do que revela. Uma leitura que ainda vai reverberar muito dentro de mim.

[Rodrigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting nice critique on neoliberal academia and intelectual anticolonialism that essentially reproduces colonial attitudes

[Rodrigo Nava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Papeada monumental de Cusicanqui para la escuela de Mignolo

[Marianela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella escribe un artículo criticando el colonialismo académico y entre las correcciones que recibe le dicen que debería haber leído/ citado a Aníbal Quijano. Ella dice que Aníbal Quijano debería leerla a ella.
Pd. En la lengua aymara y qhicwua no existe la palabra opresión o explotación, lo más cercano es empequeñecimiento, servidumbre.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro breve y sugerente. Cuestiona a autores como Mignolo y Quijano, y propone una nueva genealogía para la postcolonialidad pensada desde los Andes.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

La voz de una nativa boliviana que nos hace reflexionar al darnos una visión descolonizadora de manera directa y sin tapujos. ¡Quiero leer mas de ella!

[Jacob Vigil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but hugely impactful, poignant, and necessary volume articulating theories of decolonization that critique the whole Western conception of modern multiculturalism and "decolonial theory." Cusicanqui's thinking is original, relevant, and biting. Applicable to any project or movement of decolonization that seeks to put the lived experiences and power of Indigenous people at the forefront, this is essential reading for any settlers on Turtle Island who claim to be allies.
The concept of "ch'ixi" truly expanded my horizons more than pretty much anything I've read this year. The fiery critique of so-called decolonial theory in Western academia, and the amazing exposition of the drawings of Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala (an early 17th century Quechua nobleman and scholar) were soooo good.

[Nan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es un libro corto y bastante entendible. La verdad es que no conocía mucho de la historia de Bolivia y me pareció muy amena la relatoría que Rivera hace al respecto. Sus reflexiones acerca de los discursos (y lo no dicho), las imágenes, las ciudades, la valoración local de la experiencia y el trabajo vs. el culto a la juventud/belleza occidental y algunos otros aportes son de especial relevancia. No le doy más estrellas porque tal vez faltó algo que me cautivara. No es un mal libro, no me mal entiendan: en realidad es un excelente análisis, pero quizá deba leer otra otra de ella o releer éste algún tiempo después para mirarlo con otros ojos. Rivera es el claro ejemplo de una científica que a la vez es activista: una verdadera teórica crítica.

[Haza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro ha dejado un fuerte impacto en mí. Rivera Cusicanqui ha logrado explicar cosas sobre el colonialismo que percibía, notaba, sentía, pero me era imposible darles forma, entenderlas, o si quiera verlas. Es un libro potentísimo.

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

get rekt postcolonialismo académico norteamericano

[Francisca B. T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Acá abajo siguen hablando de decolonialidad y la Silvia puro que es anticolonial. Así de fuerte es el pensamiento posmo.

[Chamisso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy bueno

[Niplup · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Caio · Rating 5 out of 5]

silvia é incrível

[Diana Thalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un libro rápido y sencillo para comenzar a entender algunas propuestas de Cusicanqui como la sociología de la imagen y lo Ch´ixi.

[Isa Dalmacio · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this for decolonization course in grad school, inspired a lot of thought

[jimenaaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le dio de palos a Mignolo, pienso en si debo revisar mi ensayo de Chamanes(?

[Charlie Chartrain · Rating 4 out of 5]

La première partie est assez lente mais le dernier chapitre permet vraiment de comprendre son argument contre la dépolitisation du concept de décolonisation dans les pays occidentaux.

[RAT 2.o · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://chixinakax.files.wordpress.co...

[Heli Miranda ahumada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro muy interesante para pensar en cosas que jamas hubiera pensado.

"la palabra ch'ixi tiene diversas connotaciones; es un colo producto de una yuxtaposición, en pequeños puntos o manchas de dos colores opuestos o contrastados. Obedece a la idea Aymara de que algo es y no es a la vez, es decir a la logica del tercero incluido"

" La noción de la identidad de las mujeres se asemeja al tejido."

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The new stereotype of the indigenous combines the idea of a continuous territorial occupation, invariably rural, with a range of ethnic and cultural traits, and classifies indigenous behavior and constructs scenarios for an almost theatrical display of alterity."

A slim little book with an overwhelming amount to say. I very much enjoyed this!

[Nerea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esa silvia como lo deja claroooo