WITHOUT NATION, WITHOUT COMMUNITY - THE GROWTH OF MAYA NATIONALISM AMONG CHORTIS OF EASTERN GUATEMALA

Until recently, Mesoamerican history has largely been characterized by the struggles of local communities for autonomy against encroaching s tates. In Guatemala, Ch'orti' communities in the east have generally s uffered more pressure than Maya communities of the west. By the end of this century Ch'orti' culture(s) and ethnic identity(ies) have become severely threatened by poverty ethnic discrimination and state repres sion while no national culture or identify has replaced them. The Guat emalan Peace Process has opened a political space for a pan-Maya Movem ent organized by western Guatemalan Maya intellectuals. The Movement h as proven attractive to an increasing number of Ch'orti'S, who are rec overing a positive identity together with the confidence and motivatio n needed to participate in a new Guatemalan state. The Ch'orti' case i lluminates the processes of indigenous ethnic change, the uneven popul arity of the Maya Movement, and current debates on essentialism and th e ''invention of tradition''.