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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Interculturalism in Cusco, Peru: Inclusion, Exclusion & Discrimination. An Ethnographic Research at Casa Campesina

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2016

Submitted on

Abstract

This thesis examines how interculturalism (interculturalidad) is understood and enacted in Cusco, Peru, with a focus on campesino communities and the local site Casa Campesina. Beginning with a field vignette from the Inti Raymi festival—where issues of access, commodification, and social stratification become visible—the study places EU, UNESCO, and Peruvian policy frameworks alongside Latin America’s own intellectual and political traditions, highlighting tensions between “interculturalism” and “interculturalidad.” It addresses two core questions: 1) how campesinos in Cusco construct their social identities between heritage and global processes, and 2) which factors drive relations of inclusion, exclusion, and discrimination. Methodologically, it is an ethnographic study employing participant observation in an “observer as participant” role, field notes, interviews, and systematic data analysis through concept and indicator development. Through fieldwork at Casa Campesina, the thesis seeks to ground policy discourse in the lived experiences of Andean communities and to illuminate how interculturalidad is translated into practice. Specific findings and detailed analyses are presented in later chapters not included in this excerpt.

Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan interkulturalisme (interculturalidad) forstås og praktiseres i Cusco, Peru, med særligt fokus på campesino-fællesskaber og det lokale sted Casa Campesina. Med udgangspunkt i en introducerende feltvignet om Inti Raymi-festivalen—hvor spørgsmål om adgang, kommercialisering og social ulighed bliver tydelige—sætter studiet EU’s, UNESCO’s og Perus officielle rammer for interkulturalisme i dialog med Latinamerikas egen intellektuelle og politiske tradition, herunder spændingerne mellem “interculturalism” og “interculturalidad”. Afhandlingen stiller to hovedspørgsmål: 1) hvordan campesinoer i Cusco konstruerer deres sociale identitet i spændingsfeltet mellem arv og globale processer, og 2) hvilke faktorer der driver relationer af inklusion, eksklusion og diskrimination. Metodisk er arbejdet etnografisk og omfatter deltagerobservation som “observer as participant”, feltnoter, interviews og en systematisk dataanalyse med begrebs- og indikatorudvikling. Gennem feltarbejdet på Casa Campesina søger afhandlingen at forbinde politikdiskurser med levede erfaringer i Andesområdet og dermed nuancere, hvordan interkulturalidad omsættes i praksis. De konkrete resultater og analyser præsenteres i senere kapitler, som ikke indgår i dette uddrag.

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