The present paper analyzes the debates which were held during the 1944 National Constituent Assembly, which was known to be the most progressive one Ecuador had during the 20th century. Such Assembly was also the first one to
recognize Quechua language, though it did not acknowledge the right to vote to illiterates. This recognition would have meant an advance in the indigenous peoples´ pursue for their rights and the possibility for them to be politically positioned. This period was also characterized by Velasco Ibarra’s strong presence, which had an influence on the derogation of the 1945 Constitution. The aim of this paper is to identify which were the factors that influenced the denial to universal suffrage.
Finally this work also analyzes Velasco´s speech about the mestizo within the context of Ecuador joining United Nations. This will allow us to understand his vision on
national culture and the reasons which led him to derogate linguistic diversity rights.
Keywords:
diversidad cultural y lingüística, Asamblea Nacional Constituyente, mestizaje, constitucionalismo social, nacionalismo
Rodríguez Caguana, A. (2014). Recognition of indigenous languages and the illiterates’ right to vote in the Velasco period in Ecuador (1944-1946). Lenguas Modernas, (42), Pág. 67 – 84. Retrieved from https://revistadematematicas.uchile.cl/index.php/LM/article/view/32239
