Bolivia's Ambivalent Process of Change

Abstract

Ever since Evo Morales arrived to the Presidency of Bolivia in 2006, he and his government have been implementing what they have called the Process of Change (Proceso de Cambio). This process, which formally began in 2009 with the approval of a new constitution, has been defined by the government as anti-neoliberal and has sought to reinvent the Bolivian state by introducing normative, institutional and administrative reforms. The most important reforms strengthened the indigenous population’s rights, increased their political participation and placed the state at the center of development. In light of those significant changes to the Bolivian state, this articleanalyzes the Process of Change during the eight years Morales has been in power. In particular, it focuses on the changes observed in the economic, political and social areas. The article contends the Morales government has followed an ambivalent course of action. On the one side, it has sought to firmly establish political power in the hands of indigenous peoples; bring about social justice and equality as well as more inclusion for them into the political process. On the other side, the government has displayed shades of authoritarianism by repeatedly disregarding the rule of law and the constitutional order as well as infringing on some rights and liberties of the opposition, in the process contradicting its own aims. In light of Morales’ real possibility to be elected president of Bolivia for a third term, it would be imperative for him and his government to think about the consequences of an ambivalent course of action.

Keywords: Bolivia, Bolivian Politics, Evo Morales, Plurinational State, Democratization, Democracy