Bolivia: On Change, “Indigenous Peoples,” and Racialized Structural Reactionary Violence Against the Indigenous Population (2006 - 2026)

Abstract

This article focuses on the Bolivian socio-political period between 2006 and 2026. In this context, it examines the racialized structural violence perpetrated against the "original indigenous peasant" population, as an expression of the coloniality of power that does not cease to mark them as "Indians", with all the burden of inferiority that this word carries. Implemented by the Movement Towards Socialism, Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples (MAS-IPSP) in the government, headed by Morales, the process of change was carried out by the Constituent Assembly, to draft a new Political Constitution of the State (CPE), a process in which the hegemonic actor was the original indigenous peasant movement. In opposition, the civic-business-landowner coalition violated the constituent process. However, Bolivia had a new CPE (2009) that recognized it as a "Unitary Social State of Plurinational Community Law" and included, throughout its structure, the rights of the "original indigenous peasant nations and peoples". In the new scenario, the process of change had its turning point in Morales' re-election efforts. This led to a coup d'état (2019) against him and paved the way for the massacres of Senkata (El Alto) and Huayllani (Cochabamba) perpetrated by the forces of order against the followers of the deposed president. The MAS-IPSP returned to power democratically (2020), making Luis Arce president. The quarrels between him and Morales, together with the economic crisis unleashed, led to his debacle. Thus, a new government today aims to restore the neoliberal project in Bolivia.