State literacy: lessons from social struggle in the Colombian Amazon

Abstract

Introduction. This paper introduces the concept of state literacy, drawing on the struggles of campesino or peasant communities in the Colombian Amazon and interdisciplinary literature on state-citizen interactions.

Method. Using feminist and action-research methodologies, the study is based on ethnographic fieldwork in Guaviare, Colombia (April–December 2023). Data collection involved participant observation, interviews with peasant community leaders and members, and analysis of documents and photographs. Thematic analysis explored campesino interactions with state bureaucracies and their information practices.

Analysis. Historically marginalized by state zoning policies that deem their lands unsuitable for peasant practices, campesino communities have organized collective efforts to reinterpret state governance frameworks. They use tools such as state maps and digital applications to foster state literacy, challenging exclusionary policies and advocating for alternative governance models.

Results. State literacy emerges as a collective, networked, and critical practice that enables marginalized communities to engage with state systems. It is supported by informal sociotechnical infrastructures. It configures subversive practices that transform bureaucratic systems.

Conclusions. State literacy represents a vital set of skills and practices for marginalized communities to navigate and resist bureaucratic marginalization. It highlights the potential of marginalized communities to challenge and reimagine governance structures, while proposing ethical, community-driven alternatives.