Bolivia under the Left-Wing Presidency of Evo Morales—Indigenous People and the End of Postcolonialism?

Authors

  • Martin Nilsson Linnaeus University, Department of Political Science

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/ipcj-2013-0003

Keywords:

Bolivia, postcolonialism, indigenous people, democracy, socioeconomic development

Abstract

This article explores the development in Bolivia under president Evo Morales, through a critical postcolonial approach. From a traditional liberal perspective, this article concludes that the liberal democratic system under Morales has not been deepening, though certain new participatory aspects of democracy, including socio-economic reforms have been carried out. In contrast, this article analyses to what extent the presidency of Evo Morales may be seen as the end of the postcolonialism, and the beginning of a new era in which Bolivia’s indigenous people finally have been incorporated into the forward development of a multi-ethnic society. By analysing issues such as time, nation, land, space, globalization and language, the conclusion is that the new constitution marks a fresh beginning, one beyond the colonial and postcolonial eras, for indigenous groups, but it will not bring back the old indigenous societies as was dominating the territory of today’s modern state.

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Author Biography

Martin Nilsson, Linnaeus University, Department of Political Science

Martin Nilsson is a senior lecturer and the Head of Department of Political Science at Linnaeus University, Sweden. He is teaching and making research in the field of international and comparative politics, mostly related to the European Union and Latin America. He has published several book chapters and articles about the Left wave in Latin America in the 2000s.

 

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Published

2013-12-31

How to Cite

Nilsson, M. (2013). Bolivia under the Left-Wing Presidency of Evo Morales—Indigenous People and the End of Postcolonialism?. International Studies. Interdisciplinary Political and Cultural Journal, 15(1), 33–48. https://doi.org/10.2478/ipcj-2013-0003

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