| This study addresses the development of Dominican missions among the Harakmbut of lowland southeastern Peru in the course of the twentieth century. The part played by political economic processes in the relationship established between missionaries and natives is emphasized.;Missions are primarily found to have a social impact upon the means and terms through which natives confront both their social conditions of existence and incorporation into a wider polity, in this case, the Peruvian nation-state. The impact of the practical ideologies espoused by the Dominicans is thus found to be shaped by the response to the new social order being posited simultaneously. Of key significance in this regard is the reciprocal action of native and missionary strategies of social reproduction under varying political economic contexts.;Field research was carried out in the mission site of Shintuya through participant-observation, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires, although three additional Harakmbut villages were visited. Historical research was conducted in Lima and Cusco, while supplementary information was gathered in Sicuani, Puno, Santa Rosa de Ocopa, Yarinacocha, Paucartambo, Arequipa, and in La Paz, Bolivia. |
