Bolivia's Democratic Status: Examining Its Political System

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. It is a landlocked country located in central South America and gained independence from Spain in 1825. Bolivia's population is multiethnic, with a majority identifying as Mestizo (mixed White and Amerindian), and has 36 official languages, including Spanish, Quechua, Aymara and Tupiguarani. Bolivia has a bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly with a Chamber of Senators and a Chamber of Deputies. The country has experienced periods of political instability, including military coups and countercoups, and has faced challenges such as poverty, social inequality, and the marginalization of Indigenous and Afro-Bolivian populations. Bolivia exhibits mid-range performance in democratic categories and has made progress in women's participation and gender equality. However, issues such as economic inequality and political polarization persist.

Bolivia's democratic status

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. Bolivia's multiparty democracy has seen a wide variety of parties in the presidency and parliament, although the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, Nationalist Democratic Action, and the Revolutionary Left Movement predominated from 1985 to 2005.

Bolivia gained its independence from Spain in 1825, after which it experienced economic crisis and political instability, marked by military coups and countercoups and the influence of caudillos (local strongmen). Despite transitioning to democracy in 1982, historic problems of poverty, social inequality, and the marginalization of Indigenous and Afro-Bolivian populations remained unresolved.

Under the 2006-2019 presidency of Evo Morales, the country saw significant economic growth and political stability, but was also widely accused of democratic backsliding and was described as a competitive authoritarian regime. Freedom House classifies Bolivia as a partly free democracy as of 2023, with a score of 66/100. Bolivia exhibits mid-range performance in all categories of democracy. It performs in the top 25% of countries globally in electoral participation but has experienced a significant decline in personal integrity and security and civil society.

In recent years, Bolivia has been governed by democratically elected governments, with democratic transitions of power since 1982. However, the country continues to face challenges such as social inequality, racial inequality, and the marginalization of Indigenous and Afro-Bolivian populations.

The country's political history

Bolivia's political history has been tumultuous, with the country experiencing a series of nearly 200 coups and countercoups since its independence from Spain in 1809. The country's political trajectory has been shaped by the struggle between indigenous workers and the wealthy descendants of European colonialists, resulting in periods of military dictatorship and democratic reforms.

Following its independence, Bolivia experienced 16 years of war before the establishment of the republic in 1825, named after Simón Bolívar. The country's early history was marked by economic decline and political conflicts, with power often concentrated in the hands of military strongmen known as caudillos. During this period, Bolivia also lost control of several peripheral territories to neighbouring countries, including the War of the Pacific (1879) with Chile, which resulted in the loss of its Pacific coastal region.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Bolivia experienced a commodity boom fuelled by tin production, which brought relative prosperity and political stability. However, poverty and inequality persisted, leading to the 1952 Revolution. This revolution brought about universal suffrage, a major agrarian reform, and the nationalisation of key industries. However, this progressive period was cut short by a coup in 1964, which ushered in a period of instability marked by an alternation between civil and military governments.

Despite transitioning to democracy in 1982, Bolivia continued to grapple with issues of poverty, social inequality, and the marginalisation of Indigenous and Afro-Bolivian populations. In 2006, Evo Morales became the first Indigenous president of Bolivia, facilitating structural reforms aimed at achieving racial equality. A new constitution was adopted in 2009, creating a 'plurinational state' that recognised the country's diversity and the rights of its 36 Indigenous peoples.

However, Bolivia continues to face political challenges, with divisions within the ruling Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party and confrontations between branches of government. Protests and a recent coup attempt in 2024 have further compounded the country's political instability.

The role of Evo Morales

Evo Morales was the first indigenous president of Bolivia, serving from 2006 to 2019. Morales' election was historic, marking a major step forward in the struggle of a single nation and of an entire continent to further define its independence and pursue economic reform. Morales' success was not an isolated episode. Instead, his election was part of a region-wide political shift to the left in response to the social devastation of the neoliberal period.

Morales' rise to power was notable because he was the son of a llama herder and Bolivia's first indigenous chief of state. He ditched the traditional politico's suit and tie, opting for casual short-sleeved shirts and even a leather jacket. He earned a spot in the political limelight as the leader of a coca growers' union, playing an important role in protests that unseated two governments and vowed to reverse centuries of inequities against the disenfranchised.

Morales' tenure saw more than half a million Bolivians climb out of poverty, with schoolchildren, the elderly and mothers benefiting from new subsidies. The economy grew strongly thanks to high prices for its commodities. Bolivia's second-poorest country in South America, though it has slashed poverty rates and now has one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent.

Under Morales, Bolivia experienced democratic backsliding and was described as a competitive authoritarian regime. He was also criticized for democratic backsliding, failing to reflect his environmentalist and indigenous rights rhetoric, and contributing to illegal cocaine production through his defence of coca. Morales was ultimately compelled to step down after the military and even one-time supporters turned against him.

The state of the economy

Bolivia's economy is the 95th-largest in the world in nominal terms and the 87th-largest in purchasing power parity. Bolivia is classified as a lower-middle-income country by the World Bank. Bolivia's economy is largely driven by its natural resources, and the country has become a regional leader in economic growth, fiscal stability, and foreign reserves. However, Bolivia remains a historically poor country, with a heavy focus on a single commodity at any given time, from silver to coca. Bolivia's economy has also been impacted by political instability and difficult topography, which have hindered efforts to modernise the agricultural sector.

Bolivia's mining industry, particularly the extraction of natural gas and zinc, currently dominates the country's export economy. Bolivia has the second-largest natural gas reserves in South America, and its exports bring in millions of dollars per day. The country also has the world's largest lithium reserves and is a significant producer of silver, tin, and copper.

Bolivia's economy experienced rapid growth between 1960 and 1977, but this was followed by a debt crisis that lasted until 1986. During the term of Evo Morales (2006-2019), Bolivia's GDP per capita doubled, and the extreme poverty rate declined from 38% to 18%. The poverty rate also decreased from 22.23% in 2000 to 12.38% in 2010.

However, Bolivia's economy continues to face challenges. Inflation has been a persistent issue, and at one point in 1985, the country experienced an annual inflation rate of more than 20,000%. While fiscal and monetary reforms have helped reduce inflation to single digits, it continues to impact the country's economy.

Additionally, Bolivia's economy is vulnerable to international shocks and drops in commodity prices. The country also faces challenges in diversifying its economy, with a heavy reliance on the mining and extraction industries. Bolivia's economic growth is closely linked to the prices of natural gas and other commodities, and a decline in these prices can have a significant impact on the country's fiscal situation.

To promote economic development and reduce poverty, Bolivia has implemented various structural reforms and invested in infrastructure, agriculture, and rural development. The country has also worked to attract foreign investment and improve its business environment.

The role of the military

The Bolivian Armed Forces consist of the Bolivian Army, the Bolivian Air Force, and the Bolivian Navy. The Armed Forces are responsible for the external and internal defence of Bolivia and are constituted by approximately 40,000 to 70,000 troops. The Bolivian National Police, which has around 40,000 troops, is also part of the reserves of the Armed Forces.

The roles and tenure of the High Command of the Armed Forces are described in the Organic Law of the Armed Forces (LOFA), which states that the hierarchy is subordinate to and appointed by the President of Bolivia, with the Minister of Defence acting as an intermediary. The current Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces is Gen. Carlos Orellana Centellas, who was appointed by interim president Jeanine Áñez Chávez in 2019.

The Bolivian Army is the land branch of the Armed Forces and is responsible for protecting Bolivia from internal and external threats and ensuring the country's independence. The Army has around 55,500 men and is organised into ten divisions. It maintains a small fleet of utility aircraft to support headquarters and has six military regions (regiones militares—RMs) covering the various departments of Bolivia.

The Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Boliviana, FAB) is the air branch of the Armed Forces and has nine air bases located in La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Puerto Suárez, Tarija, Villamontes, Cobija, Riberalta, and Roboré.

The Bolivian Naval Force (Fuerza Naval Boliviana), also known as the Bolivian Navy (Armada Boliviana), is a naval force of around 5,000 personnel. Although Bolivia is landlocked, it has a large number of rivers and lakes where most of its naval operations take place, including Lake Titicaca, which is shared with Peru. The Navy has ten naval districts, with flotilla headquarters in Guaqui, Guayaramerín, Puerto Suárez, Riberalta, and San Pedro de Tiquina, and bases in Puerto Busch, Puerto Horquilla, Puerto Villarroel, Trinidad, and Rurrenabaque.

In June 2024, a military coup attempt led by former army chief and general, Juan José Zúñiga, was thwarted. Zúñiga and his armed supporters had occupied Plaza Murillo in La Paz, where the offices of the executive and legislature are located, with armoured vehicles. However, he was arrested by the police, along with the other participants in the occupation.

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