20235504(en)/8 - Hope Movements and the Defense of Life in Socio-Environmental Conflicts in Mapuche Territory
HOPE MOVEMENTS AND THE DEFENSE OF LIFE IN SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICTS IN MAPUCHE TERRITORY
LOS MOVIMIENTOS DE ESPERANZA Y LA DEFENSA DE LA VIDA EN CONFLICTOS SOCIOAMBIENTALES EN EL TERRITORIO MAPUCHE
Maite Hernando-Arrese and Elisabet Dueholm Rasch
This article analyses the political role of hope in the resistance against hydroelectric projects within Mapuche territory in the communes of Curarrehue and Panguipulli, southern Chile. Following a micropolitical approach, our objective is to understand, on the one hand, the tensions, and conflicts arising within local communities as a result of this resistance and, on the other hand, the political role of hope in the struggle for the defense of life, as championed by indigenous and environmental movements. Building upon this, our aim is to contribute to the literature on hope movements from the perspective of micropolitical ecology, as well as to the ongoing debate on the role of emotions and affect in social mobilization. Through collaborative and engaged research, we examine two case studies, the Añihuarraqui (Curarrehue) and Tránquil (Panguipulli) small hydropower plants, which will allow us to delve into the social practices that produce and maintain hope amidst apocalypse and despair. Beyond opposition to specific projects, this article shows that the fight for the defense of life advocated by hope movements within Mapuche territory presents us with alternatives to reconfigure the relationship between society and nature in a context of global socio-ecological crisis.
