Towards pluriversal views of digital technologies: the experiences of community and indigenous radios in Chiapas, Mexico

ABSTRACT

This article aims to present an emerging perspective for analyzing digital technologies, centering around the concepts of pluriversality and communality, and drawing on the experiences of the Network of Communicators Boca de Polen, a civil organization that has been supporting community and indigenous radios in Chiapas, Mexico for over two decades. Using a Participatory Action Research framework, the study delves into the network's experiences and those of the radios it has accompanied, revealing a profound interplay of sociotechnical practices deeply rooted in communal experiences. It sheds light on a particular pathway of technology appropriation and resistance and, by shifting the place of enunciation, explores new dimensions of concerns and possibilities enabled by digital technologies. The experiential knowledge gained from Boca de Polen is presented as a tangible manifestation of a pluriversal vision of technology, vital for fostering inclusive critical reflections on the multifaceted implications of digital technologies.

RESUMO

Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar uma perspectiva emergente para analisar as tecnologias digitais, centrada nos conceitos de pluriversalidade e comunalidade, e baseada nas experiências da Rede de Comunicadores Boca de Polen, uma organização civil que tem apoiado rádios comunitárias e indígenas em Chiapas, México, por mais de duas décadas. Utilizando um quadro de Pesquisa-Ação Participativa, o estudo explora as experiências da rede e das rádios que ela acompanhou, revelando uma profunda interação de práticas sociotécnicas enraizadas em experiências comunitárias. Focando em uma experiência específica de apropriação e resistência e ao mudar o lugar de enunciação, explora novas dimensões de preocupações e possibilidades habilitadas pelas tecnologias digitais. O conhecimento experimental obtido a partir de Boca de Polen é apresentado como uma manifestação tangível de uma visão pluriversal da tecnologia, vital para promover reflexões críticas inclusivas sobre as implicações multifacetadas das tecnologias digitais.

RESUMEN

Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar una perspectiva emergente para analizar las tecnologías digitales, centrada en los conceptos de pluriversalidad y comunalidad, y basándose en las experiencias de la Red de Comunicadores Boca de Polen, una organización civil que ha estado apoyando a radios comunitarias e indígenas en Chiapas, México, durante más de dos décadas. Utilizando un marco de Investigación-Acción Participativa, el estudio profundiza en las experiencias de la red y de las radios que ha acompañado, revelando una profunda interacción de prácticas sociotécnicas arraigadas en experiencias comunales. Centrándose en una experiencia particular de apropiación y resistencia y al cambiar el lugar de enunciación, explora nuevas dimensiones de preocupaciones y posibilidades habilitadas por las tecnologías digitales. El conocimiento experiencial obtenido de Boca de Polen se presenta como una manifestación tangible de una visión pluriversal de la tecnología, vital para fomentar reflexiones críticas inclusivas sobre las implicaciones multifacéticas de las tecnologías digitales.

KEYWORDS:

• Pluriversal technologies
• technological autonomy
• indigenous design
• digital technologies
• community communications

PALAVRAS-CHAVE:

• Tecnologias pluriversais
• autonomia tecnológica
• design indígena
• tecnologias digitais
• comunicação comunitária

PALABRAS CLAVE:

• Tecnologías pluriversales
• autonomía tecnológica
• diseño indígena
• tecnologías digitales
• comunicación comunitaria

Acknowledgements

The reflections presented in this study were compiled by the author; however, they emerged from a collaborative process with the Network of Communicators Boca de Polen. Therefore this work shall be regarded as a collective piece. I am grateful for the guidance received during the 4S/ESOCITE’s writing workshop in Choula towards the completion of this article, especially with Laura Foster. I also thank Paola Ricaurte for her comments and guidance during this research process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Throughout the history of the organization, funding sources have been a constant challenge. They initially received financing from the Culture Ministry of Chiapas, which lasted for only a few years. Over time, they received support from various organizations such as UNESCO, Cultural Survival, FRIDA, NHRF, among others, but these funding opportunities were limited and time-bound. As a result, they are always in search of new funding sources to sustain their projects.

2 The results of this documentary analysis will be a part of another article. However, it was important to mention the process because it carried over a relevant meaning that was reflected on in the final ideas presented here.

Additional information

Funding

This work is part of a doctoral research process supported by the Mexican National Council on Science and Technology (CONACyT).

Notes on contributors

Laura Elizabeth Manjarrez

Laura Elizabeth Manjarrez is a PhD candidate at the School of Humanities and Education at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico City.