INTEGRATION, ANTHROPOLOGY, AND RIGHTS: THE EVOLUTION OF THE ILO’S INDIGENOUS POLICY, FROM THE COLONIAL CLAUSE TO CONVENTION NO. 169

This thesis examines the evolution of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) approach to indigenous and tribal peoples, encompassing labour, social, and cultural dimensions, from its founding in 1919 to the adoption of Convention No. 169 in 1989. In particular, it traces the Organization’s shift from its early approach to indigenous labour, shaped by colonial imperatives, through the integrationist framework of Convention No. 107, to a rights-based paradigm that acknowledges indigenous peoples as autonomous actors. Furthermore, the study emphasises the role of Latin America, notably the Andean region, in shaping ILO policies and standards, illustrating how regional debates, technical assistance, and applied anthropology influenced the Organization’s evolving strategies. The first chapters explore the ILO’s early engagement with colonial labour, the resulting formulation of the Native Labour Code, and the institutional mechanisms for supervising indigenous communities. Subsequently, they highlight the influence of Latin American governments and the conceptualisation of Indigenismo as a framework for integrating indigenous populations, culminating in the Andean Indian Programme as a laboratory for applying anthropological insights to policy. The thesis then examines the codification of the integrationist approach in Convention No. 107, assessing the tensions between protection, modernisation, and assimilation. Ultimately, it explores the decline of the integration paradigm under pressure from transnational indigenous activism and human rights discourse, culminating in the adoption of Convention No. 169, which established principles of self-determination, participation, and respect for cultural diversity. By combining archival research, conference proceedings, and policy analysis, the study demonstrates how colonial legacies, regional experimentation, and normative innovation intersected to redefine international standards for indigenous peoples, highlighting the ILO’s pivotal role in shaping the modern global framework for indigenous rights.