The State in Transition

Abstract

The Bolivian state, viewed as a correlation of political forces, a mechanism for institutionalization, and a shared idea that guarantees moral consensus between governors and governed, is undergoing structural change. The coalition that achieved power with the 2005 elections differs in class and ethnicity from the previous power bloc, and as a result there is a gap in communication and a high level of societal conflict. To stabilize its power, the new power bloc has incorporated the armed forces into its project, nationalized the country’s natural resources and invested the new revenues in public works, and developed the nucleus of a new symbolic discourse. It is the political system—its hierarchies, leadership, alliances, and procedures—that is still contested. The bifurcation point of the process—the moment when disorder becomes order—has not yet been reached but may be closer than it appears.