I’m presenting two papers at the Midwest Political Science Association meeting in Chicago in two weeks. The first paper is finished; the second still needs some work. Here’s the abstract:
Forging a New Social Contract?
Bolivia’s 2006 Constituent Assembly ElectionThe Bolivian state’s crisis of legitimacy was not resolved with the December 2005 election of Evo Morales. The July 2006 constituent assembly elections promised to reestablish a new basis of state legitimacy. This paper analyzes the constituent assembly election itself and provides a brief critical evaluation of that body’s progress since its August 2006 inauguration. This paper also places the election in historical and political perspective and pays particular attention to the country’s recent regional polarization. Finally, this paper also contributes to expanding the literature on “institutional engineering” as means to establish a political social contract.
It’s available for download; input is always appreciated.