Open AccessEl ejercicio de la democracia en dos comunidades forestales de la Sierra Norte de Oaxaca, México*
Author(s) -
Ross E. Mitchell
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
desacatos
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2448-5144
pISSN - 1607-050X
DOI - 10.29340/27.554
Subject(s) - democracy , geography , indigenous , corporate governance , political science , forestry , humanities , ecology , politics , management , art , economics , law , biology
This study examines democratic parameters within the framework of common property systems. Two forest-based communities of the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico —Santa Catarina Ixtepeji and Santa Maria Yavesía— were selected for comparison on key democratic features.Their respective forest land-use decisions have been regulated by “usos y costumbres”, local practices of governance based on indigenous systems of community service, along with socio-environmental considerations. Both communities have taken different forest use paths with positive and negativeconsequences for democratic governance of local forest resources.This study brings new insight into the meaning of democracy and common property systems.