MABB has a good post on the crisis of the state in Bolivia (increasingly Bolivia fails to meet Max Weber’s classic definition of a “state”). In addition, he reflects on the use of polarizing discourse as the new modus operandi of Bolivian politics.
In other Bolivia political news (besides the continuing conflict between the central government & regional authorities), Evo has shaken up his cabinet yet again. The changes are interesting. Over the objections of the MAS “social bases” he kept Juan Ramon Quintana (Presidency), Alfredo Rada (Government), and Walker San Miguel (Defense). These are three powerful ministries. New to the team are a number of “tecnicos” (technocrats) who were also Santa Cruz delegates to the constituent assembly: Saúl Avalos (Hydrocarbons) & Carlos Romero (Rural Development). Another new face is Ramiro Tapia (Health). The change also included two switches: Carlos Villegas (ex-Hydrocarbons) is now minister of Development Planning; Susana Rivero (ex-Rural Development) is now minister of Production & Micro-Industry.
One of the interesting things about Evo’s cabinet is that it has been increasingly dominated by middle class academics & technocrats; fewer indigenous, female, or labor representatives are found in the cabinet over time.