Litigated exchanges: Debt peonage and social mobility politics among the Urarina

Abstract

This article explores exchange relationships between indigenous communities of the Peruvian Amazon and local bosses (patrones), focusing on the case of four interrelated Urarina communities located in the Chambira River basin in the department of Loreto (in the Peruvian northeastern region). Specifically, the article presents the case of a dispute between five Urarina youths and their boss. Although most indigenous communities resolve their conflicts without resorting to the state's legal system, many individuals—particularly youths aspiring to become authorities—are beginning to use their legal-judicial knowledge as proof of their authority and ability to assume leadership positions within their communities. However, the absence of the state in remote areas of the Amazon ultimately undermines the efforts of these Urarina litigants in using the legal system to resolve the structural asymmetries that determine their exchange relationships with non-indigenous people. This article explores the reasons that motivate Urarina youths to consult civil authorities instead of simply ending their unequal working relationships.