Bolivia's Plurinational State: A Diverse Democracy Explained

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. The term 'plurinational' refers to the coexistence of two or more distinct national groups within a polity, or organised community. In the context of Bolivia, plurinationality reflects the country's diverse indigenous population and the multitude of spoken languages. The country's current constitution, ratified in 2009, recognises the rights of indigenous peoples and enshrines the principles of unity, community, and respect for plurinational law. Bolivia's population of approximately 12 million people includes Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians, Africans, Arabs, Jews, and other ethnic mixtures. While Spanish is the official and predominant language, 36 indigenous languages also hold official status, with Guaraní, Aymara, and Quechua being the most commonly spoken. The adoption of the title 'Plurinational State of Bolivia' symbolises the country's commitment to recognising and including its indigenous communities in decision-making processes, marking a significant shift from its colonial and republican past.

Bolivia's name

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is named after Simón Bolívar, a Venezuelan leader in the Spanish-American wars of independence. The country gained independence from Spain under Bolívar's leadership on 6 August 1825. The name "Bolivia" was proposed by congressman Manuel Martín Cruz, who said: "If from Romulus, Rome, then from Bolívar, Bolivia".

The name change to the Plurinational State of Bolivia in 2009 reflects the country's multi-ethnic nature and the strengthened rights of Bolivia's indigenous peoples under the new constitution. Plurinationality or plurinationalism is defined as the coexistence of two or more sealed or preserved national groups within a polity (an organised community or body of people). The term reportedly originated in the indigenous political movement in Bolivia in the early 1980s.

Bolivia is a constitutionally unitary state, but it is also a plurinational state, with a multiethnic population that includes Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians, Africans, Arabs, Jews, and other groups. Spanish is the official and predominant language, but 36 indigenous languages also have official status, including Guaraní, Aymara, and Quechua.

The country's population

The population of Bolivia is estimated to be around 12 million people, making it the 79th most populous country in the world. The population is multiethnic, with the majority being mestizo (mixed European and indigenous ancestry), followed by indigenous peoples, and then white. Other ethnicities include Asian, African, Arab, and Jewish. Spanish is the official language, but there are 36 indigenous languages that also have official status, including Guaraní, Aymara, and Quechua. Bolivia has the largest proportion of indigenous people in the Americas.

The population is relatively young, with 59% of people aged between 15 and 59, and almost 60% under 25. The population is mostly urban, with 70.3% living in urban areas. The population density is 11 people per square kilometre, and the median age is 24.9 years.

The largest population centres are located in the "central axis" and in the Llanos region. The administrative capital, La Paz, and the constitutional capital, Sucre, are among the largest cities. Other major cities include Santa Cruz de la Sierra, El Alto, and Cochabamba.

The government

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. The country's seat of government is La Paz, while Sucre is the constitutional capital. Bolivia is a constitutionally unitary state, with a government that operates under a republican system.

Bolivia's government is led by a president and vice president, with the current president being Luis Arce, who was elected in October 2020. The executive branch consists of government ministries, with the president elected to a five-year term by popular vote. The legislative branch, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly or National Congress, has two chambers: the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Senators. The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Plurinational Constitutional Court, the Judiciary Council, the Agrarian and Environmental Court, and District and lower courts.

The current Bolivian constitution, ratified in 2009, defines the country as a Social Unitarian State. The constitution was drafted in 2006-2007 and approved in a constitutional referendum in 2009, with 61.43% of the votes. The constitution provides for a balance of executive, legislative, judicial, and electoral powers, as well as several levels of autonomy.

The Plurinational State of Bolivia recognises the country's many local peoples and spoken languages. Bolivia has a multiethnic population of approximately 12 million, with Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians, Africans, Arabs, Jews, and other groups throughout the country. Spanish is the official and predominant language, although 36 indigenous languages also have official status, including Guaraní, Aymara, and Quechua.

The concept of plurinationality, from which the country's name derives, refers to the coexistence of two or more distinct national groups within a polity, or organised community. Plurinationalism recognises the idea of multiple nationalities within a community, and a plurinational democracy acknowledges the multiple common people or populace within a polity. The term plurinationality is thought to have originated in the Indigenous political movement in Bolivia in the early 1980s. The adoption of the term in Bolivia's name reflects the country's multi-ethnic nature and the strengthened rights of Bolivia's Indigenous peoples under the 2009 constitution.

The constitution

Bolivia's current constitution was ratified on 7 February 2009, changing the country's official name to the Plurinational State of Bolivia. The new constitution was inspired by the "permanent struggle of liberation" that indigenous peoples, social movements, and Bolivian patriots undertook in defence of life, justice, and sovereignty since the Spanish colony.

> "We left the colonial, republican, and neoliberal state in the past. We assumed the historical challenge to collectively build a Social Unitary State of Plurinational Communitarian Law, which integrates and articulates the purposes of advancing toward a Bolivia that is democratic, productive, and an inspirer of peace, committed to integral development and with the free determination of its people."

The main transformation with the "re-foundation" of Bolivia was the recognition, inclusion, and participation of indigenous and campesino peoples in decision-making and representation in the state's organisational chart. The new constitution gives indigenous and campesino peoples civil rights and faculties to exercise their own autonomy.

The 2012 National Census showed that 40.6% of the Bolivian population identified as a member of an indigenous people or nation, with projections from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) indicating a probable increase to 48% in 2017. The main indigenous peoples in the country are the Aymaras and Quechuas (in La Paz, Cochabamba, Potosi, and Chuquisaca) and the Guaranies (mainly in Santa Cruz and Tarija).

The plurinational state of Bolivia is a departure from the traditional model of a republic and the legacy of Spanish colonisation. It is a recognition of the self-determination of indigenous nations and peoples, and a move towards a more democratic, productive, and peaceful Bolivia.

The Day of the Plurinational State

The concept of plurinationality or plurinationalism refers to the coexistence of two or more distinct national groups within a polity or community of people. In a plurinational state, the idea of nationality is plural, meaning that there are multiple nationals within the community. The term was first used in the early 1980s in the indigenous political movement in Bolivia.

Bolivia, officially named the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in South America. The country is named after the 19th-century liberator Simon Bolivar, who led the country to independence from Spain in 1825. Bolivia has a population of over 10 million people and is the 82nd largest country in the world. The country gained its new name in 2009, reflecting the multi-ethnic nature of the country and the strengthened rights of its indigenous peoples.

The new constitution states:

> "We left the colonial, republican and neoliberal state in the past. We assumed the historical challenge to collectively build a Social Unitary State of Plurinational Communitarian Law, which integrates and articulates the purposes of advancing toward a Bolivia that is democratic, productive, and an inspirer of peace, committed to integral development and with the free determination of its people."

The day is a significant one for the Andean nation, marking a new political, social, and economic horizon.

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