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Bolivia gets new constitution

February 7, 2009
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Because I was at a conference all weekend, I didn’t get to post about today’s proclamation of Bolivia’s new constitution (though I did Twitter about it). I’ll have more later, particularly as I’m interested in these issues: 1) the implications for a newly redesigned legislature on the electoral system; 2) the implications of the various new “autonomies” on state-local relations (and Bolivia’s new “federacy”); 3) the internal party re-alignments that will take place as political actors look to the December 2009 elections under the new constitution; and 4) how does Evo’s foreign policy now shift now that the major element of his domestic agenda (a new constitution) is taken care of.

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Comments

Miguel - two questions:

1) Do you think that the "autonomies for indigenous groups" provisions might create pressure to change the departmental boundaries to more closely reflect ethnic areas, as in South Africa following the end of Apartheid?

2) Could the provisions on indigenous groups' control over resources create tension between the indigenous groups and the central government?

Posted by Frank IBC February 8, 2009 11:55 PM

    @Frank: Yes, and yes. More later.

    Posted by mcentellas February 9, 2009 6:21 AM

      Miguel,

      I really think there are two very fascinating things about these recent developments in Bolivian political structure:

      1) The idea of integrating tribalism into the democratic structure and whether it can work

      2) Whether the U.S. could have survived had they attempted to incorporate the tribal structures (especially there judicial structures) of the indigenous north Americans into the U.S. constitution (I know a huge hypothetical question, but worthwhile to think about none the less as the world seems to be moving to a more tribal structure.

      Your thoughts?

      Posted by Mike W. February 9, 2009 2:44 PM

        Map of the indigenous areas from today's La Razon.

        I was somewhat surprised at the size of the Aymara areas, I thought it would be bigger.

        I already see one potential realignment - southwestern Cochabamba Department joins Potosi Department to form "Quechuastan".

        Posted by Frank IBC February 10, 2009 6:35 PM

          @Mike W: Some (very) quick answers to your questions: 1) overlapping autonomies can work in a federacy (e.g. India, but it will all depend on how that's worked out in detail; 2) that hypothetical is very interesting, and though I'm not qualified to answer it, I wonder if this is sort of what we have today w/ the reservation system (technically, those are autonomous self-governing nations). More on both later, as I get a chance.

          @Frank: I'm not sure what the La Razon map "means" ... but Evo's government has stated already that special representation for indigenous areas would be limited to non-Aymara/Quechua "nations." So I'll be looking at that later, as I get a chance, too.

          Posted by mcentellas February 10, 2009 8:00 PM

            Bolivia seems to switch from MMP to SMD-plurality for the 'Cámara de Diputados' (art. 147-II) (An electoral system change in that direction is remarkable)

            And do I understand art. 149-II correctly: the delimitation of 'circunscripciones especiales indígena originario campesinas' are not bound by population equality and traditional districting principles? (And how many such districts in the 121-seat Chamber?)

            Posted by Bancki February 12, 2009 9:21 AM

              @Bancki: Yes, it seems that Bolivia is indeed moving towards SMD. That may be an interesting thing to look at w/ our NSF project on electoral system change (Bolivia went from list-PR to MMP in 1994, now it's swinging all the way to SMD). The question about "special" indigenous districts is unclear, and will depend in part on whether special seats are allotted to indigenous minorities (like in Colombia) or whether new micro-districts are allotted, regardless of relative size, or whether several indigenous communities will get lumped together. The legislature is working on an electoral law that will specify all these issues.

              Posted by mcentellas February 12, 2009 9:42 AM

                @Bancki: I finally had a chance to go back & look at the CPE again. The version voters approved actually retains MMP for the lower house, as well as the size of the composition of 130 deputies. The indigenous districts will be rural districts, and come from the 130 number. Basically, very little change, except that many rural districts might (??) have their own electoral systems. The only major change is the increase in the size of the Senate; now all departments get 4 seats (previously 3). That will actually increase the over-representation of Media Luna departments.

                Posted by mcentellas February 14, 2009 10:56 AM


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