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<p>I have argued that Ecuador has historically excluded the indigenous peoples economically to the point where they experience the highest levels of poverty in the country. The indigenous people have been tied to their land and current economic policies are endangering their communal property rights and their way of life. Also contributing to that inequality is the political exclusion they experience. Without effective representation, social programs have been cancelled at will and economic policies and reforms are implemented without debate with those they most affect. With this last wave of democratization, the indigenous people of Ecuador are now highly organized. They have changed their image from one of subservience to the traditional political and economic elites to one of activists demanding the government uphold its constitutional mandate while increasing the indigenous peoples own rights to self-determination. The combination of these three factors creates potential for further violence. The governments pursuit of oil-led development and its damaging effects on the economy and environment will clash with the indigenous peoples desire to maintain their culture and way of life. The violence stemming from the insurgency and large flows of illegal money in neighboring countries only increases the likelihood of Indian political violence in Ecuador.
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<br>Subjects: Insurgency; Ecuador</div>
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Iniguez, Miguel Cortez.</div>
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