202557(en)/14 - Territorial Dynamics of State Power and Afro-Descendant Recognition in Argentina and Chile

Antonia Mardones Marshall

This article examines how the geographical location of Afro-descendant movements, relative to the territorial organization of the state’s political-administrative apparatus, shapes the mechanisms they employ to capitalize on emerging opportunities for legal recognition. Through a comparative analysis of the strategies employed by Afro-Argentine and Afro-Chilean activists to promote legal reforms, I argue that the political geography of Afro-descendant movements structures their capacity to advocate successfully for recognition and inclusion. I focus on legislative initiatives proposed in each country related to the Afrodescendant population– primarily centered on legal recognition–to analyze how each movement’s geographic location relative to the territorial organization of political power impacts the type and scope of bills that address their demands. The article shows that, despite notable differences between Argentina’s and Chile’s political-administrative systems, the prevailing centralism in both countries makes the distance between Afrodescendant organizations and the capital city a key factor in determining the impact of their political advocacy.

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