Bolivia's Political Revolution – Nine Months On
Dear Readers:
We just published the September issue of our e-newsletter, The Democracy Center on-line. The newsletter, which we have been publishing for a decade, has 3,500 readers worldwide. This new issue looks at Bolivia's Political Revolution – Nine Months On. Below are the introduction and a link to the full issue. Blog readers will note a lot of overlap with our ongoing analysis in recent weeks here.
If any readers of the Blog are interested in receiving the newsletter and do not currently, just send us a note at: info@democracyctr.org.
Best to all,
Jim Shultz
Bolivia's Political Revolution – Nine Months On
It really was a dramatic and hopeful beginning that cold January weekend when Evo Morales took over the presidency of Bolivia. Standing atop 1000-year-old pre-Inca ruins at Tiahuanaco, Morales received a blessing of his powers from leaders of the indigenous communities of Bolivia's highlands, in a ceremony that hadn't been held in 500 years. His formal inauguration in the Bolivian Congress drew nearly a dozen heads of state, from Chile to Slovenia. Knock-off copies of the new president's red and blue horizontal striped sweater sold briskly on the internet. His picture graced page one of the Washington Post. "Evo Mania" took Bolivia and the world by storm.
In the months since, Bolivia has developed a whole new tourism industry of filmmakers, journalists, academics, and revolution-seekers who want to see close-up what they think is some new form of democracy by the people taking shape in the Andes. If they look close, and with their eyes wide open, they can see a new government that really does inspire great hope among people long-marginalized by both politics and economics. They can also get a really good lesson in how hard it is to convert the romance of hope into the far less romantic task of governing a nation.
Link to full article.
We just published the September issue of our e-newsletter, The Democracy Center on-line. The newsletter, which we have been publishing for a decade, has 3,500 readers worldwide. This new issue looks at Bolivia's Political Revolution – Nine Months On. Below are the introduction and a link to the full issue. Blog readers will note a lot of overlap with our ongoing analysis in recent weeks here.
If any readers of the Blog are interested in receiving the newsletter and do not currently, just send us a note at: info@democracyctr.org.
Best to all,
Jim Shultz
Bolivia's Political Revolution – Nine Months On
It really was a dramatic and hopeful beginning that cold January weekend when Evo Morales took over the presidency of Bolivia. Standing atop 1000-year-old pre-Inca ruins at Tiahuanaco, Morales received a blessing of his powers from leaders of the indigenous communities of Bolivia's highlands, in a ceremony that hadn't been held in 500 years. His formal inauguration in the Bolivian Congress drew nearly a dozen heads of state, from Chile to Slovenia. Knock-off copies of the new president's red and blue horizontal striped sweater sold briskly on the internet. His picture graced page one of the Washington Post. "Evo Mania" took Bolivia and the world by storm.
In the months since, Bolivia has developed a whole new tourism industry of filmmakers, journalists, academics, and revolution-seekers who want to see close-up what they think is some new form of democracy by the people taking shape in the Andes. If they look close, and with their eyes wide open, they can see a new government that really does inspire great hope among people long-marginalized by both politics and economics. They can also get a really good lesson in how hard it is to convert the romance of hope into the far less romantic task of governing a nation.
Link to full article.
posted by The Democracy Center at 7:50 PM
44 Comments:
Thanks for the link, Jim. Well presented I thought. (I know I’m not the favorite critic, but I thought it was a well put together piece all the same.) I’m glad to hear you recognize the two central issues of cash crunch and incompetence with the new government. We’ve gone over this territory before, but personally, I’d like to see a listing of the ministers in the government with their respective qualifications for the position they hold. It may be time to start interviewing for some of the other positions just in case.
Cash may indeed come from higher taxes if the government can refrain from driving off its potential partners. Accepting Mr. Soliz Rada’s resignation may have been a good first step.
Concerning the Magna Carta, I have a prediction: When the newly drafted constitution is handed down for final approval, (thereby requiring a two-thirds majority), if the opposition does not rubber-stamp it, they will be demonized as right-wing racists conspiring to undermine the Morales government. After a sufficient number of offers to allow them to approve it (let’s say two), they will be deemed obstructionist and the patriotic masses will decide that a simple majority is sufficient after all.
As regards civil war, all I will say here is that if Mr. Morales didn’t single-handedly divided the country (which of course he didn’t), well, he’s certainly enhanced the contrast. What is your source on what the Bolivian elite thinks, by the way? I’ve noticed that your observations from Cochabamba differ strikingly from what I see in Santa Cruz. Actually, most of the “elite” I speak to don’t see him lasting two years let alone five. I don’t like to underestimate him, but he does like to walk the razor’s edge.
In the blog of one of your readers, JONATHAN, he quotes Evo Morales: "I feel I’m more of a syndicalist leader than a President" I remember when he made that comment a while back.
The problem now is that he still feels like that and his actions are such. For nearly ten years Mr. Morales lead the cocaleros. Perhaps lead is not the correct term; I think drove would be better.
As the coca growers syndicate leader [which, btw, I believe he still is...Isn't that a conflict of interest; syndicate leader and president?] Mr Morales used typical fear and scare tactics to impose his ideas on the people. I have many friends in the Chapare region that were forced (by threat) to blockade and march. If the threats and peer pressure didn't get to them, there were fines levied against them and 'liens' put on their property by the local co-ops. I know one person in particular, a single mom with five children, who lost her 25 hectárea lot in the Chimore area due to fines imposed for not marching. It's gone, seriously gone.
Now Mr Morales has brought his dictatorial style to the presidency. We have already seen what happens when he doesn't get his way and will see more in the months to come. He's just not used to that type of response from 'his' people. His irrational statements and attacks on those who do not agree with him (in particular the USA; being a victim is so convenient) will continue and increase in the future.
Many in the MAS party are following without a thought. A friend who is a campasina and by all logic should be a MAS supporter told me this. "In the campo when a shepherd wants to collect her sheep, she merely bleats a call and the sheep come running. Evo is the shepherd and his sheep are following blindly."
I find it interesting that this blog tends to support and laud the present government here even though it is called Democracy Center. MAS is Movement to Socialism and though I am no Political Science major, I believe there is a wide difference between Democracy and Socialism. Mr Morales, in fact, is leaning toward a Castro-like government style; further left than Socialism.
Sorry in advance for any offence. The passion runs deep.
You can have democracy and socialism. Democracy is a political system that determines how you get to be leader; the opposite of a democracy is a dictatorship. Socialism is an economic model; the communism is the opposite of capitalism and socialism is somewhere in between. The scandinavian countries have had democratic socialist countries for years now and it works quite well there. Even educated us citizens tend to mess that up. I think it was all those years hating the "commies" in the USSR (which also happened to be a dictatorship)
But I digress.
The real point I want to make here is that, with all of your idealism Jim about the indigenous peoples rising out of darkness, you are missing the point about what is going on in Santa Cruz.
There is no room to compromise. They are headed for civil war. If the cambas allow Evo's people free reign with their 50% majority, they will make changes that people here cannot accept.
What they want to do to education would mean that no bolivian student would be qualified to go to a university outside of the country. By putting incompetent people in charge of restructuring schools and curriculums, he would destroy the chance for people here to give their kids a crack at a good future. He would bring everyone down to the level of the poor schools instead of bringing the poor up.
Now, before you call me an "elitist" Jim, I want to ask you a few questions. You write pretty well, I imagine your parents went to some trouble to get you into a good school district there in California. The public schools in decent towns there are much better than the most "elite" private schools here. Oh yeah, and who paid for your university?
What about your kids. Are you going to make a political statement and sent them to the public schools in Cochabamba? If you don't you are a hypocrite. If you do you are a lousy father.
It is easy to ride around on your bycicle taking your trips to the states to eat your good mexican food and support a government that would destroy any chance people have for a life half as "elite" as the one you had growing up.
What the cambas want is to live in a country where things work. Where they can get an eduation and get a good job or build a company so that they can give their kids half of what Jim's parents gave him.
Anon 1: Is it a conflict of interest? See Article 43 of the current constitution. (Articles 92 and 93 are pretty interesting too.) http://www.presidencia.gov.bo/leyes_decretos/constitucion_estadoT.txt
Thank you, Norman. Mr Morales once again shows us that he is above the constitution and the law. Unless, of course, he declined his reappointment as cocalero syndicate leader.
Anyone know? Please enlighten me.
"Tanks are rolling through the streets of Thailand's capital city after the Thai military attempted to seize power and oust Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra while he was at the United Nations in New York. Thaksin has declared a state of emergency, while Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin declared martial law."
What a great idea. Why didn't Santa Cruz think of this...
8-)
I'll toss in my two cents about Evo's history (and the history of MAS). Putting aside the issue of whether Evo Morales can be both president (a public office) and hold leadership of a syndicate (a private office) -- answer: he can't, but he does.
The tactics used by many syndicatos in Bolivia are just as described by other comments. So Evo's history of blockades, confrontations (including land mine attacks that have killed/maimed dozens of Bolivian soldiers during the last decade), and marches is well known. During that time, he argued that social movements have the right to express their grievances against a government they don't support. Expressing these grievances are not to be checked by the rights of other to work, transit, etc.
Thus, his (and his followers') position towards a regionalist protest is, in a word, hypocritical. Whether you support Evo or not, one must ask why he's willing to support protest only for his supporters, and not for his opponents. One must also ask why he's using mass mobilization of syndicates loyal to him to "punish" Santa Cruz rather than the instituitons of law & order (the police & army).
In other words, Evo's government has clearly adopted extra-constituitonal means.
It's important to note, I think, the evolving history of MAS. MAS wasn't founded in the 1990s, it was founded in 1987 as MAS-Unzaguista by David Añez Pedraza. It was founded as the "socialist" wing of the FSB (Falange Socialita Boliviana), founded in 1937, led by Unzaga de la Vega (hence, Unzaguismo), and modeled on the Franco's Spanish Falange. In short, a nationalist-syndicalist party (which is a polite way of saying "soft" fascist). The party's colors were cobalt blue & white (as they still are). In 1993, Evo (and others) founded the Asamblea para la Soberania de los Pueblos (ASP) and the Instrumento Politico por la Soberania de los Pueblos (IPSP). After the communist-led Izquierda Unida broke appart in 1999, Evo led his IPSP (he had broken w/ the ASP of Alejo Veliz in 1998) into an alliance with Pedraza's MAS-U. The National Electoral Court (CNE) wouldn't recognize IPSP as a political party, so Evo made a deal w/ Pedraza to "borrow" MAS-U, which was legally registered before the CNE. Eventually, the name became simply MAS (shortly before the 2002 election; MAS-U participated in the 1997 IU alliance), though Pedraza (ironically, a long-time opponent of indigenous movements during his FSB career) became the "presidente vitalicio" of MAS.
If you won't want to take my word for it, you can look for some books on Bolivian political parties by Isac Sandoval & Salvador Romero Ballivian. The MAS-U falangist legacy is also well documented in the CIDOB biography of Evo Morales available (in Spanish) online at:
http://www.cidob.org/bios/castellano/lideres/m-014.htm
A toast to Mcentellas!
..Just a note in passing: Today's Washington Times (not Post) has article by, I assume, one of their reporters saying that Morales is working with Venezuela to set up three military bases in eastern part of Bolivia to respond to "a campaign by the United States which wants to confront us", and because the U.S. is "scheming" against Bolivia through neighboring countries. Two base sites mentioned in the article are Riberalta y Puerto Quijarro. Bases would be manned by troops trained and equipped with AK-103's provided by Venezuela. Acknowledging that the WT is just to the left of Fox News, I haven't seen any other sources corraborating this article. Devleopment to watch/confirm if in fact there's anything to it...
"into an alliance with Pedraza's MAS-U"
Yes, they used the name, but that is the only connection, hardly an alliance as anyone who reads the linked article will find. For the Usamerican audience all-too ready to belive in straw-man theories of fascist/populist "third world" dictators, it should be clarified that obtaining legal personage as a political party could be somewhat difficult under neoliberal democracy. That is, for actual movements of people, although a number of right wing parties such as MAS-U, PDC (Christian Democrats), and FRI (Revolutionary Leftist Front) who were for most of the 90's adhered to former Dictator Banzer's ADN (Nationalist Democratic Action) maintained personage and were practically owned by a single person or small group of "ideologues".
Futher in the article, the reason why the IPSP needed to borrow legal personage, was that the National Electoral Court was under pressure from those fine, open minded folks at the Embassy to not give them one.
Whatever one thinks of the CNE decision to not allow IPSP to register as a party, the decision by Evo & the cocaleros to seek out an alliance w/ MAS-U is not completely insignificant. After all, they coud've sought out any one of several more traditionally leftist parties.
There was still the POR (Trotskyite communist-socialist). There also PS-1 (though this was a more orthodox "scientific socialism" not eager to support rural movements, as evidence by their split w/ IU in the 1990s). There was even the Bolivian Communist Party (PCB).
Yes, various parties have acted as "banderas prestadas" at various times. And various parties supported the Banzer dictatorship.
But MAS-U has a long history. It broke from FSB in 1987. It then joined the FPU, which later became the IU. In effect, MAS-U moved decidedly towards the non-orthodox Bolivian left (the orthodox Marxist left continued w/ PS-1). So MAS-U wasn't just sitting around waiting for an ally, sitting in obscurity in 1999. It had been a long-standing ally of the rural Cochabamba cocalero movement since 1987. By 1997, the IU alliance was composed almost entirely of only two parties: the PCB and MAS-U.
Further, many of the original statutes introduced into MAS-U by Pedraza remained part of the "official" MAS platform until the 2005 election. Perhaps it's only coincidence that the MAS platform included a 10-point decalogue?
So this is not a straw man, or ad hominem, or even a case of poisoning the well. I'm sorry to say, but just because it was difficult to register as a party doesn't explain Evo's moving to embrace MAS-U. After all, in the same time period (late 1990s), a former guerrilla leader (Felipe Quispe) was able to register a new political party, MIP (Movimiento Indigena Pachakuti), even when he could've "borrowed" one of the previous party names (such as Eje-Pachakuti, MRTKL, MITKA, etc.). So why could a former EGTK guerrilla do what Evo, who had no such history, couldn't?
More to the point, why did Evo not use the banner of IU? There was no IU candidate slate in the 2002 election. But the party was still registered. Even in my analysis of electoral data, I consider MAS just an extension of IU. Surely, the "owners" of the IU banner would've let Evo run under that party's name. After all, he was elected to parliament in 1997 as an IU representative.
But in 1997 (as in 1989 and 1993), the IU alliance included MAS-U (along w/ other parties). Somehow, Evo chose to borrow the label "MAS-U" for his party, striking a deal w/ Pedraza, rather than do what Quispe did (register his own party) or borrow the name of a more socialist leftist party (most of which were desperate to find a candidate who might win more than 5%).
The bottom line: You can't claim a vast conspiracy to prevent Evo from forming a party. After all, a guerrilla leader who had been jailed for acts of "terrorism" and indigenous Aymara leader -- Felipe Quispe -- was able to do just that in the same time period. And I doubt anyone can make the case that Quispe was less radical, less militant, less confrontational, or less indigenous than Evo Morales.
Humm let me see, “In the months since, Bolivia has developed a whole new tourism industry of filmmakers, journalists, academics, and revolution-seekers who want to see close-up what they think is some new form of democracy by the people taking shape in the Andes.” I will like to know what type of democracy Jim is talking about, since only to him and to the MAS Regimen followers, the Bolivian government is working in a democracy. We must remember that even the communist in Russia believe they implemented democracy through the soviets during Lenin’s period. Hitler under the NAZIS also acquired power trough democracy and free elections and so did Hugo Chavez. I don’t know what kind of new form of democracy our country is about to be taken on if Evo and the MAS regimen are just following the steps of the later two leaders I mentioned.
The article also mentions, “Foreign analysts declared that Morales had "been conned by Castro and Chavez" and predicted that foreign investors would flee the nation.” And that is it, the later example of the taxi driver presumes that this did not happened because the companies still in the Country. Believe it Jim, they may be still in the Country, but their inversions have gone to Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Angola, etc.; the predictions were true and very easy to make.
One thing I will like somebody to explain to me, since Jim with his Economics degree never did and nobody that I know that hates Globalization could, is the following. “In January I attended a meeting of senior officials trying to put together a negotiating team to deal with foreign trade agreements. The government had two options, neither of them good – rely on a well-educated elite with "free trade will solve everything" politics or a new guard dedicated to fairer agreements but with little background on the issues.” Why is a Free Trade Agreement so bad for Bolivia? Which one of our industries is going to be destroyed by it? How many jobs we would loose against the ones we will win? So fare, it looks that the MAS Regimen is against FTA because it is a good thing that can come from Globalization and they just cannot accept that, no matter that would benefit the people in the country.
Finally, Comparing South Africa with Bolivia is absurd and a dream pursued only by Jim. South Africa had more than 80% of African natives, 10% of other races and mestizos and only about 10% of white Afrikaners that ruled and had most of the economic power. Bolivia, is mostly mestizo, no matter how much you want to renegade at it, we Bolivians know it is true. And mestizos were and have being around political and economical power since the Agrarian Reform in the 1940’s, and even before that. Most, if not all, of the informal economy in Bolivia, with probably moves around 80% of the currency in the country before, during and after the capitalization
Mcentellas, cheers to you from my part also man; you added excellent, and unexpected, information about the MAS Regime that is going to help many people to understand where this cancer to democracy is trying to take us, Bolivians, way to go and keep up!
Tambopaxi, if you speak spanish you would like to read Bolivia's Development Plan, (PND).. Section 3.4.6 Defensa Nacional, or national security, does explicity talk about setting up upto 25 new military bases around the boundary, mostly on the eastern region. They will be established as "development poles", lead by the military. According to the PND, the military will be part of Bolivians everyday life, as they will be part of our health, education, and economics. I think you can find a version of the PND at http://www.planificacion.gov.bo/
I have two different versions, on is over 500 pages and the other one over 200...
Also try getting "Las 10 estrategias para defender al Gobierno del Pueblo, MAS"... It not only speaks about the military , but about "El Estado Mayor del Pueblo" and other defense mechanisms which sort of create a parallel state, and which are unconstitutional.
PS. Excuse my grammar and spelling mistakes
I posted comment last night but apparently it didn't get through: Washington Times reporter Martin Arostegui has article in WT world section of Sept 19 talking about Morales' working with Venezuelan military to establish three military bases in eastern part of Bolivia (Riberalta y Puerto Quijarro; third place not identified). The Government of Bolivia's stated purpose (this is Morales himself, according to the article) in establishing the bases is to respond to a "campaign of the United States, which wants to confront us." The article goes on to quote Morales as saying that the bases are needed because the U.S. is "scheming" against Boliva through neighboring countries. Article mentions that Venezuelan army engineers are already on site and that the Government of Venezuela plans to bring in AK-103 rifles it recently purchased from Russia to hand out to Bolivian army troopers who will man the three bases.
I have not seen this news anywhere else, and we all know that the WT is just to the left of Fox News. Can any readers corroborate this article?
Oooops, new version (or latest update of comments just came through and it shows my comments of last night. I don't know why they didn't show this morning, before I reposted. Embarrassing, and I apologize for the second post.
Finally, Boliviana 100%, yes, I read Spanish, so thanks for the tip, and I'll try and follow up on this. saludos, Tambopaxi
I was re-reading the response by "K'ara" just to be sure I understood correctly. And I want to point out a few errors in the comment itself:
MAS-U, in the 1990s, did not support Banzer. MAS-U, from 1989 through 1997 was part of the IU (Izquierda Unidad) coalition that included such parties as the Partido Comunista de Bolivia, elements of the Lechinista PRIN, and a few other small leftist parties. Absent from the IU alliance, of course, was the PS-1, which was founded by Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz. So, no, MAS-U did not support Banzer during the 1990s. The FSB did support Banzer's military regime from 1972-1978. But this was almost a decade before Pedraza broke from the FSB. In the 1990s, the FSB was most closely tied, not to Banzer, but to the UCS of Max Fernandez starting in 1989. Max Fernandez was the FSB presidential candidate, until he withdrew over disagreements, leaving hte 1989 FSB ticket without a presidential candidate. But in several elections, a public UCS-FSB alliance (often the two signs were printed on ballots) did, in fact exist.
As for FRI (Frente de Izquierda Revolucionaria): This party wasn't allied with Banzer, but rather with the MIR of Jaime Paz Zamora. The FRI is a regional party (Tarija) which is more national-left than Marxist-left and is a splinter of the MNR (which broke up into various splinter groups in the 1960s-1970s, including PRA, MNRV, MNRI, and others). But, yes, MIR did ally with ADN on several occasions (1989, 1993, and 1997). More recently (in the last few months), FRI has allied with the MNR.
Finally, the PDC (Democratic Christian Party) is a standard "Christian democratic" party. While it is rather conservative on many social issues, it is more of a center-right party. The party did not actively support the 1972-1978 Banzer dictatorship but was rather split. Several factions of the PDC went on to form MIR and MBL, comprising the more "socialist-progressive" wing of the Christian democratic movement. MIR, btw, was throughout the 1980s-2000s the only Bolivian party formarly a member of the Socialist International. If anything, the PDC members have shown a moderating influence on the ADN (which they've been allied with since the 1980s), with their position slightly to the left of the more "hard line" ADN members.
Finally, I would also caution against assuming that MAS has no fascist tendencies just because they call themselves socialists. Such a position shows little knowledge of the international, comparative history of fascist and national-syndicalist movements. Fascism, particularly in the Italian & Spanish forms was also critical of capitalism and "bourgeoise" society. It called for the nationalization of key industries, the subjugation of social classes to the "national will" and relied heavily on hierarchically led mass mobilization, rather than pluralist associations. A key element of most fascist movements included reliance on millenarian mysticism, strong attention to symbolism & public spectacle, and emphasis on racial or ethnic identity. Mussolini, leader of the first fascist movement, nationalized Italian industries, he did not support capitalists. Actually, Mussolini was (prior to the 1920s) writer and editor of the Socialist newspapers "L'Avvenire del Lavoratore", "Il Popolo", and later "Avanti".
I won't say whether Evo or MAS is a "true" fascist movement. But they are self-described "syndicalistas" (syndicalists) and have strong emphasis on nationalism, rather than Marxist ideology. I find it interresting that one of the government ministers publicly bragged that he'd never read a book. I doubt it's true, it was probably propaganda. But it's interesting that this was a code of honor, since in many ways fascistic movements have shown a disregard for intellectuals. All in all, I'd categorize MAS as a national-syndicalist party.
If you'd like some reading on populism, I highly recommend "Populism and the Mirror Democracy" edited by Francisco Panizza (Verso, 2005), particularly the chapter by Ernesto Laclau. On fascism, I highly recommend the book by the sociologist Michael Mann, "Fascists" (Cambridge University Press, 2004) which looks at fascism in Italy, Germany, Rumania, Hungary, and Spain, as well as broadly.
first, the reason I pick bones was about the word "alliance", the rest of your post I disagree with the opinion but not the facts. I was a little careless in the grammar which makes it seem that I thought MAS-U was allied to ADN, they weren't. As for FRI, yes Zamora tagged along with Paz Zamora, but ever since they crossed rivers of blood, the only difference between MIR and ADN was that MIR was more obvious about its corruption.
Maybe I don't know enough about the trajectory of MAS-U from Falangist to "national-syndicalist" as you coin an interesting term. But from my knowledge and the article you linked, there was nothing to the acquisition of the legal name save bureaucratic expediency.
Also, the article itself plainly states that the Embassy was pressuring not to give Evo a legal political party. And lets not forget the fact that Evo was illegaly ousted from the House of Congress on direct orders from the Embassy. Imagine that, the Deputy with 70% of the voest in his district, gets kicked out because a foreign government doesn't like him. Evo was reinstated since it was found legally that the pretext of his responsibility for deaths in Sacaba did not have legal weight. But he just waited instead until his reelection the next time.
Anyway, it is good to analyze possible fascist tendencies in MAS as in any group of people. What do you think about the Santa Cruz Civicos and their "shock troops" of young, rowdy, violent Camba Youth? I see a great similarity with Mussolini in that aspect too.
fact*: EVO said (9/19) he is increasing military nearby Bolivian frontier because we need to have a presence in the border..."no implica ofender a nadie, ni invadir a nadie, ni molestar a nadie, sino simplemente defender nuestros recursos naturales"
fact*: Venezuela is helping out financially (my guess: maybe logistically as well).
Observation: Before 2007, any president that attemped to increase military in Chapare region would had been front page news in all newspapers plus big protests and blockades from EVO.
Opinion: I don't think this is a coincidence that military movement is happening at "media luna"
Fact**: As yesterday 9/19 there were some confirmations to blockade Santa Cruz ExpoFeria 2006.
Fact***: An scary one, government (prosecutors/fiscalia) said there is precedence (President Mesa) that blocking on "protest" is not illegal in Bolivia; thus, they will not do a thing about it in Santa Cruz.
Conclusion: In 9 months, we are closer to civil war now, much more, than 9 months ago. Racial and geographical distancing is more real now than 9 months ago.
references:
* http://www.la-razon.com/versiones/20060920_005670/nota_262_334682.htm
** http://www.la-razon.com/versiones/20060920_005670/nota_249_334656.htm
*** http://www.la-razon.com/versiones/20060920_005670/nota_249_334658.htm
In response to K'ara:
I've never denied that there are fascistic tendencies in some (though not all) of the regionalist movements from Santa Cruz. The Nación Camba I'd list as one such group, especially w/ its Brigadas de Honor. Perhaps even elements of the Unión Juvenil Cruceñista. Both are, more or less, semi-disciplined, quasi-paramilitary organizations.
As for the term "national-syndicalism". It's not a new term that I coined, it's been around for several decades. If you want, you can look up the entry on syndicalism in Wikipedia (and, no, I didn't write or edit it):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndicalism
Syndicalism has many variations, of course, including things like anarcho-syndicalism (which is essentialy Trotskyism).
There is also a Wikipedia entry (again, I didn't write or edit it) on "National syndicalism":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_syndicalism
It gives a good overview of the term, and its connection to Italian & Spanish fascism.
Finally, you can take a look at the Wikipedia entry on "Falangism":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falangism
Note that fascism is not *ALWAYS* a right wing tendency. We have a tradition, particularly in the US, of viewing fascist movements as belonging to the right, and by extension, of being pro-capitalism and pro-bourgeoise. Most fascist movements were actually extremely anti-capitalist, and anti-bourgeoise in their orientation.
I encourage you to read some passages by Mussolini, Alfredo Rocco, or Giovani Gentile for a sense of what fascists actually said they believed. You can find much of that in an Oxford University Press reader edited by Roger Griffin, "Fascism". There are other fascism readers out there, but this one is particularly good. It also includes entries by fascists from Ireland, England, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Norway, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Rumania, Hungary, South Africa, Chile, Brazil, and Japan. Which allows for a comparative look at trends w/in "international" fascism.
Again, I'm not suggesting that MAS is a "pure" fascist movement. There are some elements lacking. But a deep ethnic & racial view of "nationality", a millenarian project, a fetishization of the peasant & land, elite-directed mass mobilization (here I mean elites in terms of leaders, so top-down, hierarchical leadership), and reliance on performance (the classic leader on the balcony, the march to show strength in numbers, etc) are hallmarks of both classic fascist & populist movements since the 1920s (think Peron, Vargas, Haya de la Torre, etc).
For the record, most (including myself) would include the MNR in the 1940s-1950s as a semi-fascist movement. And clearly, a populist one. It's so described in various books on Latin American political parties. Like the FSB, many of the early MNR leaders (e.g. Augusto Cespedes) were heavily influeced by European fascism & corporatism. The organization of the MNR in the 1940s into conspiratorial "cells" and "commandos" which it used to launch a civilian revolution in 1952 have much in common with 1930s European fascism.
The difference, I suggest, is that like the Mexican PRI, Peru's APRA, and Venezuela's COPEI (all of which are described in the same way as the MNR in their early periods) abandoned corporatism in favor of pluralism, and transformed themselves into liberal democratic parties (for better or worse).
Finally, there is a new group in Bolivia that calls itself "Neounzaguista" led by Horacio Poppe. It is registered with the CNE. See:
http://www.tribunalconstitucional.gov.bo/gpwtc.php?id=13005%20&name=consultas&file=expediente
Here is a cached copy of an article w/ Poppe from June, 205 in "La Prensa":
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:AFAxcJoTR5oJ:166.114.28.115/domingo/20050612/domingo3.htm+%22Horacio+Poppe%22+unzaguismo&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2&client=safari
The Poppe-led Unzaguista party is based in Cochabamba, where it has been recruiting its "white shirt" legionaires (as did the FSB in the 1930s).
For non-Spanish readers, here's a brief portion of the interview w/ Poppe:
LA PRENSA: What are the principles that guide the "white shirts"?
POPPE: "The principles and values of unzaguismo are: antiliberal nationalism, one that seeks the integration of the fatherland, that is opposed to regionalisms and rejects the concept of class struggle and, beyond, a socialism different from the one expressed in the Marxist dialectic materialist struggle without foundation. Our socialism is the imanent expression of altruism in live, that is to say, to seek the values and principles that generate life in communitarian society, such as honor and loyalty, for which we believe in the transcent values of spirituality.
---
The above is, for the most part, both classic Italian/Iberic fascism and not entirely inconsistent w/ the MAS platform, which both rejects "orthodox Marxism" and neoliberalism.
K’ara, you are a classic representative of the MAS Regimen, you wrote “Anyway, it is good to analyze possible fascist tendencies in MAS as in any group of people. What do you think about the Santa Cruz Civicos and their "shock troops" of young, rowdy, violent Camba Youth?”
Anyway what? You are saying that if somebody is openly fascist, so MAS can be? We are hearing the same “they did in the past now is our turn” philosophy from all types of MAS adherents. They are all centering on wrong doings, corruption, anti democratic behavior and opposites of human rights. This exclamations are just bravata expelled without even thinking on the reality of comparisons; for example you compare the fascist “Union Juvenil Cruceñista” with the several similar, and also fascist, organizations the MAS regimen has in and around the “Estado Mayor del Pueblo”.
MAS is in the government K’ara, as the executive they have the police and ultimately the army to enforce the law in the country. In the legislative they have the majority to change those laws in consensus with other minorities if they don’t like the laws. I am not sure how and when the UJC born and what was its reason to be, but I never, ever hear that they where a part of any constitutionally elected government nor they have ever helped any constitutionally elected government to block cities, roads, markets or to harsh public and private entities and constituent assemblies.
The MAS Regimen did not arrest and prosecuted the UJC when they forcefully enforced a civic curfew in SCZ because they choose to use the example as an excuse to continue with their totalitarian agenda. Or what, do any of you thing that emulating the fascist behavior of a group will get us closer to democracy, I believe not.
This is quite a bit out of context and I’m sure many will wonder, “where did that come from.”
Mr Chavez had quite the illogical, insensitive, child-like tirade at the UN today. You should read the transcript or watch the news video (for those of you with a fast connection). Any predictions as to how soon Mr Morales does the same? I recognize that he’s spewed insane rhetoric directed at the US before; but I mean some really good stuff…
God damn mcentellas, you are one smart Son of a bitch
Sorry, but just for full disclosure: I'm one of a handful of people in USA (seriously, I can count us all on one hand) who make a living studying Bolivian systems, particularly the history & development of the country's political parties. I currently teach at a top-ranked liberal arts college in Pennsylvania (Dickinson College), and my dissertation is specifically on the effects of electoral system reform in the 1990s on the party system, w/ a chapter on the evolving "national imaginary" of the 20th century. So all that info on the history of MAS just comes from my dissertation research (really, just a few footnotes here & there), including the year spent in Bolivia on a Fulbright grant. All the stuff on populism & fascism comes from prep work for two seminars I'm teaching next semester: one on populism in 20th century Latin America and the other on liberalism, fascism, and communism. That certainly doesn't mean I'm always right (I'm only human). But I'm not just flying by the seat of my pants when it comes to Bolivian politics.
sorry to interupt the coffee-cafe-esq chat here, but if anyone is in Santa Cruz, or in contact with folks in Santa Cruz, it would be great to hear news of the road-block. sure would prefer that the situation stays stable enough for folks to continue on with their work
I think MAS can't be completely fascist because at least the IPSP, and other social movements that led to its rise to power have a clear classist view. And the corporatist element which has means to mobilize support for the fascist project from business and industry leaders, and to finance a middle class paramilitary urban force, is doing it precisely against the MAS!
my tendency is to view fascism as authoritarianism governing in service of Power. However, in Bolivia, where is Power? Imagine that a lifelong leftist and former guerilla is our vice president, and he advocates nationalist capitalism! And Evo stated early on that MAS had won the government, but not Power. Is it in the NGO's? Is it in Jim's pocket? at the Embassy? at the lesser-evil European Embassies? with the Oligarchs? the wealthy Aymara merchants? at least Power knows itself, huh!
anyway, its great to hear about Bolivian politics from such a knowledgeable source, though one may disagree on some things. since someone brought up Chavez- thanks by the way, I had forgotten he would be in NY and though I promise I'm not a crazy bastard, I always look forward to hearing him speak the truth. did he mention 9/11? my guess is Power, whoever she may be, doesn't like Hugo. but to the point, what is populism? can someone give an example of a Latin American government which boasted popular support, and was not labeled populist? its seems the only way to escape this label is to go all the way and do in democracy, a la fidel.
actually, can anyone point me in the direction of a bolivian blog that discusses current events in Bolivia? (petrobras negotiations, expocruz roadblock)thanks!
The question about whether there are "popular" (as in doing-well-in-the-polls) regime in Latin America that wasn't populist is a good question. It's certainly part of the problem w/ defining populism. I think some examples might be Lagos or Bachelet in Chile. Also Cardoso in Brazil, I'd even include Lula as not a populist leader. Perhaps even Oscar de la Rua in Argentina. And most of the Venezuelan (before Chavez) & Colombian presidents. I'd have to think of a few others, but they're often the exception, that's for sure.
Populism isn't defined as merely a popular government, though. It's often defined as a means of organization, primarily focused on mobilizing previously unmobilized or under-represented constituencies. But it also limits their participation. And here MAS is tricky, because it's hard to know how much of their movement is allowed to actually participate in decision-making, or whether local syndicate leaders are actually just mobilizing people in clientelistic networks.
But a clear indication of a populist regime is its reliane more on mobilizing masses, rather than on legal institutions. Often populist regimes aren't even popular. So judging them just on popularity can be a problem. Fujimori wasn't very popular, certainly not towards the end. But he was a populist authoritarian, at least by most analysts.
It's also important to remember that both populism and fascism are "mirrors" of democracy. In many ways, they stem from a Rousseauian understanding of democracy: faith in the General Will, that the General Will can be understood by a vanguar party or leader, and that those who act against the General Will (as understood by this party/leader) should be "forced to be free." This is based on the idea that there is a single entity known as "the people" who rule absolutely. Liberal democracy is based on the assumption that there is no such thing as "the people" and that there is no General Will, only individual, plural interests.
In the end, democracy often tries to balance three contradictory goals: 1) equality, 2) personal freedom, and 3) participation. How do we achieve equality w/o infringing on someone else's freedom? How do we have freedom when we have disequal resources? How do can we all actively participate in a government when there are millions of us spread out across great distances? Etc.
Populism & fascism emphasize egalitarianism above personal freedom. And they frequently reduce participation to a means for showing consent, not actual decision-making power. In populist regimes, previously marginalized groups do actually improve, but only insofar as their leadership is coopted. See Peronism in Argentina or the PRI in Mexico, for example.
Finally, I'm not so sure if fascism can be reduced to merely a question of power. After all, all governments try to control power (the state aparatus). That includes liberal, communist, sultanistic, and other types of regimes. Instead, I tend to look ideologies by how they're organized. Then again, I'm something of a structuralist.
Sorry, but I couldn't read this 'What they want to do to education would mean that no bolivian student would be qualified to go to a university outside of the country' without replying.
The indigenous and mestizo Bolivians, along with various African emigrants are the cleaners of Western Europe.Don't talk about foreign university placement - that's for the rich whites and any Santa Cruz resident would know that - unless perhaps the author were either in denial or wanted to confuse the picture with misinformation.The schools are busier here corralling the 9 and 10 year olds to march through the town square carrying anti-government banners and shouting 'autonomy' and (my fave)'decentalisation!'Absoloutely true.It's a word I would guess few of them could spell.As my stepson's Headmaster hissed as he slid the new curriculum across the table at us "This is what you're damned nigger wants to do to my school".The parents and staff present all nodded sagely.
Muy educado, no?
As a five year old friend told me recently "coca is for the colla (slang for indigenous) and they're bad people".It's a mentality that's drip fed through the whole city's culture.I've had the same 'niggers' type answers from other intelligent young people here when asking about politics or the President.
As for the current high quality of Cruceño education,we recently checked out some private schools and I asked one of the teachers about the teaching of world history and literature.
"Well", he said "we wouldn't have up til now, but what with the government's educational reforms, we'll need to".Need to.Seems to me they're gonna get a dose of civilising influence and they're not liking it very much.
Most of the Camba youth (including in-laws) I speak to don't know the geography of their own country and my far from unintelligent 11 year old stepson had never read a book.He was unable to read a passage of more than about 80 words without his mid wandering.(He is now reading around 100 pages per day).
The history they're taught in the department's schools is not global history,the history of the Americas or even Bolivian history.Disgracefully they're just taught Cruzeño history.Hmm,I don't think they have that that on the course list at Cambridge yet, do they,Anonimo?And that might impair their foreign study prospects.
One particular school open night, a boy who looked no more than 10 years old stood up with a Cruzeno bandera around him and recited what could best be described as a 'blood and honour' type fascist poem about his beautiful land, his dying mother and his blood spilled on the soil.He was ready to fight for his (yawn) tierra linda.The clapometer almost broke.
Who needs the Congo when Santa Cruz has a ready supply of child soldiers?THAT was what was being taught at school that week.
The protests are pure reactionary politics - a rearguard action from a demographically troubled elite fighting to maintain power and, needless to say, when you have a badly educated population, calls to defend 'nuestra tierra' from 'Indios' meet with much success.
Finally, and also obviously, when you're a well paid professional,(white no doubt) with a big 4x4 and a house in a compound with a swimming pool (there are loads here) you may feel inclined to be scared, like that champion of democracy,lider George W, about the erosion of democracy and spread of 'communism' here.(It's not - it's a kind of progressive secular socialism like we have in Europe, but don't let that stop you).Morales' strongarm tactics and manipulative attempts to force the 'absoloute majority'in the constituyente are awkward though redolent to me less of Castro than Blair's recent behaviour as regards the passing of various anti-terror legislation in the UK.They're both in a suspect position legally (especially as regards certain recent wars, of course), but did those calling Morales a dictator say the same about Blair?
I suspect not.
And as for the guy who said 'most of the Cruceño elite don't see him lasting more than 2 years', why would that be, Oh Respecters Of Democracy?They're not planning a coup against a democratically elected President, are they?I thought you rich educated types were supposed to be more civilised.
At least that's what you keep saying.
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
runescape power leveling
rs2 power leveling
runescape powerleveling
runescape power level
runescape money
runescape gold
buy runescape gold
buy runescape money
runescape items
runescape accounts
buy runescape accounts
buy runescape items
cheap runescape money
cheap runescape gold
runescape gp
dofus kamas
buy dofus kamas
Guild Wars Gold
buy Guild Wars Gold
GW Gold
rs2 money
rs2 gold
rs2 items
rs2 accounts
buy runescape money
buy rs2 money
buy rs2 gold
runescape Guide
rs2 Guide
rs2 accounts
buy rs2 accounts
runescape accounts
buy runescape accounts
陈楚生
http://www.vgoldseller.com
http://www.vgoldsupply.com
http://www.runescape4money.net
http://www.buylotrogold.org
www.runescapemoney-runescapegold.cn
www.runescape2vip.cn
www.runescape2store.com
www.rs2-accounts.com
www.buydofuskamas.com
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
wow power leveling
wow gold
wow items
feelingame.com
wow tips
Most Valuable WOW Power Leveling Service
wow power leveling faq
cheap wow power leveling
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
wow power lvl
wow gold
wow power leveling
wow power leveling
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
wow powerleveling
wow powerleveling
World Of Warcraft power leveling
World Of Warcraft power leveling
World Of Warcraft power leveling
World Of Warcraft powerleveling
World Of Warcraft powerleveling
World Of Warcraft powerleveling
wow power level
wow power level
wow power level
cheap wow power leveling
cheap wow power leveling
cheap wow powerleveling
cheap wow powerleveling
codeheart article
Warcraft Gold
Traffic Sex carries sex toy like giant dildos and rabbit vibrators and even vibrating bullets for women and for the man we have sex toys cock rings and realitic vaginas online.
Giant Dildos Giant Dildos
Rabbit Vibrators Rabbit Vibrators
Vibrating bullets Vibrating bullets
Strap On Dildos for Women Strap On Dildos for Women
cock rings cock rings
Penis Enlargement Pumps for men Penis Enlargement Pumps for men
Realistic Vaginas Realistic Vaginas
anal sex toys anal sex toys
massage lotion massage lotion
Bondage Toys Bondage Toys
Blow up Sex Dolls Blow up Sex Dolls
sex toy sex toy
sexy christmas gift ideas sexy christmas gift ideas
valentines day gift valentines day gift
sexy valentines gift sexy valentines gift
erotic valentines gift idea erotic valentines gift idea
buy erotic sexy valentines day gifts buy erotic sexy valtentines day gifts
If you are seeking adult swingers BDSM gay dating
lesbian dating then Swingers Club is where you want to
be for your alternative dating join free.
swingers swingers
BDSM personals BDSM personals
adult swingers adult swingers
swingers club swingers club
sex swingers sex swingers
swingers dating swingers dating
gay swingers gay swingers
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
world of warcraft power leveling
wow powerleveln
wow power leveln
world of warcraft power leveln
world of warcraft powerleveln
ffxi power leveling
coh power leveling
cov powerleveling
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
world of warcraft power leveling
ffxi power leveling
ffxi powerleveling
lotro powerleveling
lotro power leveling
wow gold
world of warcraft gold
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
world of warcraft power leveling
ffxi power leveling
ffxi powerleveling
ffxi
ffxi gil
lotro powerleveling
lotro power leveling
lotro gold
Fucking Machine cherrie rose Fucking Machine
sybian sex machine cindy crawford sybian sex machine
Fucking Machine harmony Fucking Machine
sybian sex machine sybian sex machine
Fucking Machine jenna presley Fucking Sex Machines
Fucking Machine Pictures Fucking Machine pictures
fucking machines fucking machines xxx
Buy Fucking Machines Buy fucking machines
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
world of warcraft power leveling
wow powerleveln
wow power leveln
world of warcraft power leveln
world of warcraft powerleveln
ffxi power leveling
coh power leveling
cov powerleveling
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
world of warcraft power leveling
ffxi power leveling
ffxi powerleveling
lotro powerleveling
lotro power leveling
wow gold
world of warcraft gold
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
world of warcraft power leveling
ffxi power leveling
ffxi powerleveling
ffxi
ffxi gil
lotro powerleveling
lotro power leveling
lotro gold
lotro gold
lord of the rings gold
lord of the rings online gold
lotro gold
lord of the rings gold
lord of the rings online gold
Warhammer gold
Warhammer online gold
Warhammer money
War gold
War money
Tabula Rasa Credit
lotro gold
lord of the rings gold
lord of the rings online gold
lord of the rings online gold
lord of the rings gold
Tabula Rasa Credit
World of Warcraft gold
PotBS Doubloon
Pirates of the Burning Sea Doubloon
PotBS Gold
Pirates of the Burning Sea Gold
lotro gold
lord of the rings gold
lord of the rings online gold
Tabula Rasa Credit
Warhammer gold
Warhammer online gold
PotBS Doubloon
PotBS gold
Pirates of the Burning Sea gold
Pirates of the Burning Sea Doubloon
翻译公司
深圳翻译
深圳翻译公司
英语翻译
日语翻译
法语翻译
德语翻译
俄语翻译
藏语翻译
韩语翻译
泰语翻译
越南语翻译
印度语翻译
瑞典语翻译
印尼语翻译
阿拉伯语翻译
马来西亚语翻译
菲律宾语翻译
意大利语翻译
爱尔兰语翻译
柬埔寨翻译
土耳其语语翻译
西班牙语翻译
葡萄牙语翻译
外语翻译
小语种翻译
证件翻译
合同翻译
法律翻译
机械翻译
标书翻译
医学翻译
外贸翻译
食品翻译
技术翻译
化工翻译
农业翻译
汽车翻译
通信翻译
英译汉，汉译英
汉译日，日译汉
金融翻译
同声传译
新疆租车
广州翻译公司
深圳翻译公司
runescape runescape money runescape gold buy runescape money buy runescape gold runescape cheat runescape tip lotro lotro gold lotro golds buy lotro gold buy lotro golds lord of the rings online lord of the rings online gold lotro lotro gold lotro golds buy lotro gold buy lotro golds lord of the rings online lord of the rings online gold runescape runescape money runescape gold buy runescape money buy runescape gold runescape cheats runescape tips guild wars guild wars gold dofus dofus kamas lotro lotro gold guild wars gold guild wars gold guild wars gold maple story maple story mesos maplestory mesos maple story maple story mesos maplestory mesos maple story maple story mesos maplestory mesos runescape runescape money runescape gold buy runescape money buy runescape gold www.runescape.com runescape.com runescape items dofus dofus kamas dofus kamas guild wars guild wars guild wars runescape runescape money runescape money runescape gold buy runescape money buy runescape gold runescape.com runescape items
キャッシング比較
銀行系キャッシング
融資シミュレータ
消費者金融 審査
キャッシング 比較
信販系キャッシング
ローン
即日融資
消費者金融
レディースローン
融資
学生ローン
即日融資
おまとめローン
キャッシング ローン
低金利キャッシング
キャッシング 申込
一本化
即日 キャッシング
大口 融資
低金利 キャッシング
高額 融資
低金利 ローン
大口 ローン
おまとめローン
消費者 金融 審査 甘い
カード キャッシング
主婦 キャッシング
ネット キャッシング
The fourth wow power leveling latest game in wow power leveling Warcraft series is ‘wow power leveling’. Also known as wow power leveling, it represents a wow power leveling multiplayer online wow power leveling game, the best of wow power leveling kind. Initially, it was wow gold it be released in 2001, but wow powerleveling was delayed wow powerleveling 2004, thus wow powerleveling the 10 years ofwow powerleveling franchise of thiswow gold series. The world of warcraft power leveling was not world of warcraft power levelingfulfilling, because wow power levelproblems with wow power level server’s stability power leveling wow performance occurred, but power leveling wow game still power leveling wow a financial success powerleveling wow the most powerleveling wow game of its kind. The number cheap wow power leveling users that play Maple Story mesos, exceeds 8.5 MapleStory mesos, worldwide.As a form ms mesos,recognition for mesos,outstanding popularity, the game SilkRoad Gold, received aSRO Gold, of awards. Now the question eq2 plat, why is eq2 gold, game eq2 Platinum, popular? For anyoneEverQuest 2 Platinum, played the previous EverQuest 2 gold, and EverQuest 2 plat, already initiated lotro gold, the mysterious world lotr gold, the breathtaking Lord of the Rings online Gold, this Rolex Replica nothing but an Replica Rolex adventure that continues the story of ‘Warcraft III: Frozen Throne’, four years after conclusion, in the world of Azeroth. The game is online role-playing, the previous versions being online and offline strategy games. The major thrills and unique features are present as in every Blizzard game.
wow gold wow gold cheap wow gold cheap wow gold buy wow gold buy wow gold world of warcraft gold world of warcraft gold cheapest wow gold cheap world of warcraft gold buy world of warcraft gold fast wow gold fast wow gold buy cheap wow gold cheapest world of warcraft gold wow gold for sale gold for wow sell wow gold