As Guatemala, a country known for its authoritarian and
repressive governments and for its civil war, attempts to
consolidate democratic governance, improving the relationship
between the state and the indigenous people is one of the key
challenges it faces. Since the conquest of the Americas, the
Mayans of Guatemala who make up the majority of the population
have suffered discrimination, repression, and violence as a
result of their ethnicity. In addition, government policies have
traditionally excluded the indigenous peoples from all national
decision-making. Therefore, the successful reconstruction of
Guatemala into a sustainable and legitimate democracy will
depend largely on how the government can incorporate authentic
indigenous representation into the national system and address
previously ignored indigenous rights. Historical experience
would argue against the possibility of the Mayans enjoying the
benefits of democracy. However, a variety of developments have
come together to cause a reevaluation of