A Sea Uprooted: Islandness and Political Identity on Chiloé Island, Chile

In 2016, the people of Chiloé, an island in Southern Chile, mobilised against the Chilean state for a period of over three weeks. The conflict was triggered by an environmental crisis that affected the main economic activities of the island: salmon farming and artisanal fisheries. This article argue...

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Main Authors: Beatriz Bustos, Álvaro Román
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Island Studies Journal 2019-11-01
Series:Island Studies Journal
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.91
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author Beatriz Bustos
Álvaro Román
author_facet Beatriz Bustos
Álvaro Román
author_sort Beatriz Bustos
collection DOAJ
description In 2016, the people of Chiloé, an island in Southern Chile, mobilised against the Chilean state for a period of over three weeks. The conflict was triggered by an environmental crisis that affected the main economic activities of the island: salmon farming and artisanal fisheries. This article argues that 'islandness' should also be understood as a political stance toward the state. Based on in-depth interviews and an exploration of the concept of islandness, the paper examines the mayo chilote, and contributes an empirical reflection on the transformation of islandness as a political position by analysing the tension between two narratives, each demanding different treatment for the island: demand for redistribution led by those directly affected by economic losses resulting from the crisis, and autonomy as development, involving deeper and broader criticism of historical relations with Chile. We aim to contribute to island studies by providing a non-binary understanding of processes of identity and social mobilisation.
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spelling doaj.art-44496d484c7d469c8f55264a1ccc9b9c2023-07-27T10:52:11ZengIsland Studies JournalIsland Studies Journal1715-25932019-11-01142A Sea Uprooted: Islandness and Political Identity on Chiloé Island, ChileBeatriz BustosÁlvaro RománIn 2016, the people of Chiloé, an island in Southern Chile, mobilised against the Chilean state for a period of over three weeks. The conflict was triggered by an environmental crisis that affected the main economic activities of the island: salmon farming and artisanal fisheries. This article argues that 'islandness' should also be understood as a political stance toward the state. Based on in-depth interviews and an exploration of the concept of islandness, the paper examines the mayo chilote, and contributes an empirical reflection on the transformation of islandness as a political position by analysing the tension between two narratives, each demanding different treatment for the island: demand for redistribution led by those directly affected by economic losses resulting from the crisis, and autonomy as development, involving deeper and broader criticism of historical relations with Chile. We aim to contribute to island studies by providing a non-binary understanding of processes of identity and social mobilisation.https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.91
spellingShingle Beatriz Bustos
Álvaro Román
A Sea Uprooted: Islandness and Political Identity on Chiloé Island, Chile
Island Studies Journal
title A Sea Uprooted: Islandness and Political Identity on Chiloé Island, Chile
title_full A Sea Uprooted: Islandness and Political Identity on Chiloé Island, Chile
title_fullStr A Sea Uprooted: Islandness and Political Identity on Chiloé Island, Chile
title_full_unstemmed A Sea Uprooted: Islandness and Political Identity on Chiloé Island, Chile
title_short A Sea Uprooted: Islandness and Political Identity on Chiloé Island, Chile
title_sort sea uprooted islandness and political identity on chiloe island chile
url https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.91
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