Latin American attempts to free itself from the clutches of US-led MNCs is off late having an important gradient. The increasing involvement of indigenous population in the democratic process of Latin America has come as a watershed. The 40 million population with several indigenous groups, constitute about 10% of the Latin American population. The socio-economic positioning of these groups, however, puts them at an infinitely inferior position. Historically, from the 15th to the 19th century, these groups have faced all kind of repression at the hands of the Europeans. The onset of 19th and the 20th century brought them under indirect American hegemony.
In this light, the democratic demand of the tribal groups has been staggering. In Bolivia, for example, about 55% of the population is totally indigenous while the other 35% are part indigenous. Against this, only after reframing of the Constitution in 1997 could Bolivia be recognised as a multilingual and pluri-ethnic country. The election of Evo Morales from the indigenous Aymara population in 2005 came as the signifier of great change in the region.
This democratic involvement of the tribal groups could be one small step in correcting the wrongs of the past and the present in the region. Or it can be a giant step as well.