Indigenous Land and Environmental Conflicts in Panama: Neoliberal Multiculturalism, Changing Legislation, and Human Rights

Panama is currently in the midst of profound changes. It is one of the fastest growing economies of Latin America, has an expanding tourism industry, and remains a prominent locale for lifestyle migrants. The government's embrace of neoliberal economic development has led to a number of recent policy changes for rights to land and environment. I use the idea of neoliberal multiculturalism to demonstrate how in Panama neoliberal reforms are weakening indigenous rights to land and environment while often giving the semblance of supporting them. Here I use sixteen years of research in Panama to examine legal changes to indigenous rights across the country, and explore how Ngäbe, Guna, Emberá, and Wounaan peoples are responding to challenges to the lands and resources they hold. These are worrisome trends given the tremendous economic growth and land-grabbing in the country.