Bolivia’s new constitution: towards participatory democracy and political pluralism?

Over the past two decades, Latin American countries have adopted new constitutions in a wave of constitutional change. Bolivia’s new constitution defines the country as a representative, participatory and communitarian democracy and incorporates enhanced mechanisms and institutions for participatory democracy. This article analyzes the changing democratic model in Bolivia focusing on the relevant provisions in the new constitution and the challenges regarding its implementation. The paper is based on field research and qualitative interviews conducted in the country.

The article raises the question of whether the new constitution will change the relations between state and civil society considerably and whether a new democratic model is being established in Bolivia. It argues that there are many limiting factors in putting the emancipatory elements of the constitution into practice. These include the:

• increased strength of the executive branch
• intent of the government to co?opt civil society organizations and to exclude dissident views
• resistance of the conservative opposition to losing some of its privileges
• deep?rooted social inequality
• social conflicts and polarization
• resource dependence of the current economic model
• Authoritarian characteristics of indigenous self?governance structures.

The paper seeks to demonstrate that the new Bolivian constitution has contributed to considerable changes in the social, political and symbolic order. It makes the following observations:

• There is a specific new constitutionalism which has brought many innovative elements with the intent of overcoming the deficiencies of previous models
• The new constitution strengthens the mechanisms of participatory democracy and is characterized as transformative and emancipatory
• There are considerable improvements regarding the participation of civil society in state politics although there are still many obstacles to the development of a participatory and pluralist democracy
• There are many social and political factors which may restrain the impact of the new constitution in practice
• The paradox is that, against the wishes of the powerful elite, the new constitution strengthens participatory democracy on the one hand and the executive branch on the other
• Multiple public spheres have been built through the recognition of indigenous-campesino self-governing entities and their participation in state politics although the entities have authoritarian and sexist tendencies which should not be overlooked
• The question of the creation of intercultural institutions should be resolved.

The paper concludes that the new Bolivian legal norm cannot create a new society but can help transform it.