Dynamite in the Mines and Bloody Urban Clashes: Contradiction, Conflict and the Limits of Reform in Bolivia's Movement towards Socialism

Jeffrey Webber

doi:10.18740/s4002m

Abstract

<p>This paper critiques common depictions of the Evo Morales government in Bolivia as revolutionary socialist or radically reformist. It introduces the concept of indigenous ascendant populism to better understand the character of the Morales administration. It summarizes the historical significance of the electoral victory of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS); situates contemporary Bolivian politics within the broader theoretical debates occurring within the Latin American left; and explains the trajectory of Latin American populism and the particularities of Bolivia's experiences within that trajectory. Against this theoretical and historical backdrop two popular mobilizations occurring in 2006 and 2007 are examined: a conflict in a Huanuni mine in October 2006 and the ‘Cochabamba Conflict' of December 2006 and January 2007. Both events are found to substantiate the thesis of indigenous ascendant populism. The contention is made that a renewal of independent self-organization and strategic mobilization of the popular classes and indigenous nations is necessary so that social movements will not be trapped within the limited political horizons of the current government. </p><p> </p>

Highlights

This essay introduces the concept of indigenous ascendant populism as a way to better understand the character of the current Bolivian government, led by president Evo Morales, of the Movimiento al Socialismo (Movement Towards Socialism (MAS))
This essay has developed the concept of indigenous ascendant populism to better conceptualize the character of the Evo Morales administration in Bolivia
It examined the roles of popular sector ascendant and popular sector defensive populism in Latin America and situated the Bolivian experience within this broader context

Summary

Introduction

This essay introduces the concept of indigenous ascendant populism as a way to better understand the character of the current Bolivian government, led by president Evo Morales, of the Movimiento al Socialismo (Movement Towards Socialism (MAS)). Having introduced the theoretical concept of indigenous ascendant populism it makes sense to turn to a detailed examination of two major incidents of popular mobilization in 2006 and 2007 This focus will help to clarify the limits of demands from below deemed to be acceptable by the current government, as well as highlight the MAS’s relationship to autonomous self-organization and mobilization on the part of radical Bolivian social movements. We find that both the case of the conflict in a Huanuni mine in October 2006 and that of the Cochabamba Conflict in late 2006 and early 2007 bolster the argument for characterizing the Morales government as indigenous ascendant populist. Waldo Albarracín, and the Minister of the Presidency, Juan Ramón Quintana, were eventually able to broker a truce which ended the violence, but not before at least 17 people were killed and numerous others injured.

Participants

Findings

Conclusion