New Forms of Colonialism in Imperial Border Regions: Political Agency, Ideology of Change and Internal Contradictions (Río de la Plata, late 18th century).

LÍA QUARLERI

Halle- Witternberg

Workshop; Enlightened World Appropriations: Imperial Actors and Scenarios of Change (1750-1820).; 2015

Martin-Luther Universität

NEW FORMS OF COLONIALISM IN IMPERIAL BORDERSPOLITICAL AGENCY, IDEOLOGY OF CHANGE AND INTERNAL CONTRADICTIONSRÍO DE LA PLATA, LATE 18TH CENTURYThe intervention of the Colonial State in Guaraní Indian reductions is a paradigmatic case showing in its complexity, how enlightened, absolutist and centralist features combined in the configuration and design of policies of assimilation. At the same time, it reveals how the general policies of the Bourbon State entered into contradiction with other political actors? interests and perspectives, and how these policies were re-interpreted by the indigenous population involved. In addition, this case puts forward how external elements combined with internal dynamics resulted in the progressive disarticulation of peoples that were communities of belonging, residence and production. Finally, it shows how the economic, political and demographic transformations were directly related to the location of peoples in a strategic area from a geopolitical, commercial and productive point of view.