Mapuche Protest beyond (and hither) Chile’s Social Outbreak

Abstract

In this article, we undertake the study of the various repertoires of contention of the Mapuche people during 2019 in Wallmapu. We look into the dynamics of their own ability for mobilisation, historically built up in the rural areas, as opposed to the escalation of urban protest observed in Chile’s recent social outbreak, exemplified in the protest cycle that took place in 2018 in the face of the killing of rebel Camilo Catrillanca by police forces. The results highlighted a conflict focused on anti-forestry protests and lawfare, which can be seen in three different territorial realities in the Wallmapu area. The article concludes that, even if the recent social outbreak opens up new opportunities for the Mapuche cause, it turns out to be more of a historical milestone for the Chilean people and the urban Mapuches, and it has had little impact on the protest actions going on in rural areas for decades. Despite this, our study highlights de-monumentalisation as an urban protest dynamics arising from social outbreak, in line with the Mapuche de-colonial project deployed by the most important Mapuche organisations. Finally, this paper reflects upon the urgency to draft a new social contract, both for the Mapuche and the Chilean peoples.