Socio-interculturality approach: The case of indigenous Autonomous University of Mexico

• Author: Ernesto Guerra-García - José Guadalupe Vargas-Hernández - Ruiz-Martínez Fortunato
• Position: Sociology Department, Universidad Autónoma Indígena de México - Centro Universitario de Ciencias Económico Administrativas, Universidad de Guadalajara - Universidad Pedagógica Nacional
• Pages: 65-81

AGORA International Journal of Juridical Sciences, www.juridicalj ournal.univagora.ro

ISSN 1843-570X, E-ISSN 2067-7677

No. 2 (2012), pp. 65-81

65

SOCIO-INTERCULTURALITY APPROACH: THE CASE OF

INDIGENOUS AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF MEXICO

E. Guerra García, J. G. Vargas-Hernández, F. Ruiz Martínez

Guerra-García Ernesto

Sociology Department

Universidad Autónoma Indígena de México

* Correspondence: Guerra-García Ernesto, Río Presidio 128 Nte. Col. Scally,

Los Mochis, Sinaloa, México, c.p. 81240.

E-mail: drguerragarcia@gmail.com / eguerrauaim@yahoo.com.mx

Vargas-Hernández José Guadalupe

Centro Universitario de Ciencias Económico Administrativas

Universidad de Guadalajara.

*Correspondence: Vargas-Hernández José Guadalupe, Periférico Norte 799 Edificio G-202,

Núcleo Los Belenes CUCEA. Zapopan, Jalisco C.P. 45100; México

E-mail: josevargas@cucea.udg.mx jgvh0811@yahoo.com,jvargas2006@gmail.com

Ruiz-Martínez Fortunato

Universidad Pedagógica Nacional

*Correspondence: Ruiz-Martínez Fortunato, Huanacastes 1280, Los Mochis,

Sinaloa, México. CP 81285.

E-mail: fortunato_20@hotmail.com, natoruizm@gmail.com

Abstract

This paper presents socio-inter-cultural as a methodological construct for analyzing

the complex phenomena that occur in education for cultural diversity, specifically in the case

of the Indigenous Autonomous University of Mexico, the oldest university in the intercultural

universities system in Mexico. It is studied through its history and specific cases the influence

of different political spheres and microspheres of gender, class and ethnicity and the

intertwining of intra-sociality, the intra-cultural and inter-cultural that allows understanding

what happens in this institution.

Keywords: Socio-inter-cultural, inter-cultural, intra-cultural, intra-social,

Indigenous Autonomous University of Mexico.

Introduction

Currently, in this globalized world it is observed that major changes are being given

invariably, in a complex skein in which intertwine economic, political and social macro

spheres and microspheres of gender, class and ethnicity that weave the social tissue.

1. Socio-intercultural

Currently, in this globalized world it is observed that major changes are being given

invariably, in a complex skein in which intertwine economic, political and social macro

spheres and microspheres of gender, class and ethnicity that weave the social tissue.

Civil wars in the Middle East, student protests and cultural globalifobics, restructuring

of global economic blocs, re-emergence of the Eastern powers and decolonization movements

in Latin America are just some of the most visible facts from Mexico in recent years. These

E. Guerra García, J. G. Vargas-Hernández, F. Ruiz Martínez

66

and other phenomena are linked synchronously or asynchronously with the dynamics of the

cultural, intra-cultural, intercultural and intra-societal processes. The analysis of these

processes, from the macro and microspheres, leads to the proposal socio- inter-cultural

approach addressed in this work and shown schematically in figure 1.

Figure 1. Sociointercultural analysis scheme

DIMENSIONS

INTRASOCIAL

INTRACULTURAL

INTERCULTURAL

MACRO

SPHERE

Politic, social,

economic

MICRO SPHERE

Gender, class,

ethnic

SOCIOINTERCULTURAL

Source: Authors' construction

To this end, one of the first analyses to be done has to do with the distinction between

ideal theoretical issues and practical realities that are happening. To analyze ethnic and

cultural diversity in global and local contexts inevitably leads to consider and combine 1)

utopias, having or not hidden agendas, for some perverse and ideals to others and 2) what

many forget: the realities reflected in the practices, however raw they are. Both aspects are

sometimes so excluding and other intermingled, juxtaposed and superimposed, but it is

undeniable that the results are part of the dynamics that societies cannot control.

Another aspect to consider is that in societies not only are observed intercultural

processes as there are inter-cultural, intra-cultural, and intra-societal dynamics that could be

more intensive at some point in the relationships between cultures. In other words, when

caring for society or culture in isolation, it can be committed a regrettable mistake. From a

bourdian perspective, the first ones are structured with the two types of relationships: the

force, based on the use and exchange values covering, so interwoven, other type of sense

relationships, responsible of organizations for relations of meaning in social life. This last one

is referred to the cultures participating in them (García Canclini, 2004: 32).

Thus, there are two concepts that have been worked on extensively and concretely

defined. For García Canclini (2004: 32) society is conceived... as a set of more or less

objective structures that organize the distribution of the means of production and power

between individuals and social groups and that determine social, economic and political

practices (García Canclini, 2004: 32). On the other hand, from the many existing definitions

of culture, it is taken the formulation that Gasché (2004) develops around the interaction of

indigenous cultures with the involving national society, i.e. he presents a concept of culture

considered as the observable result of human activity, and not as a series of elements,

representations and values simply available and according to some authors, determine human

action. Our concept departs from the fact that the current context of the interaction [...] often

puts people at several possible alternatives - traditional ways, conventional ways of acting

observed in and adopted from the surrounding society. This situation gives to the person the

freedom to reproduce their culture in identical way or modified and inspired by foreign

models or external examples to their society. Culture considered as a result of the activity is