Political party system
From Bolivian Politics
Bolivia has a multiparty system. This is page is SLOWLY being updated as I have time.
Bolivia's political party system was, until recently, dominated by three parties: MNR, ADN, MIR. These three provided presidents in each post-transition election; they occupy a centrist position. The poor showing of 2002 ADN brought questions about the party's continued relevance.
Three major neopopulist parties emerged in the 1990s: CONDEPA, UCS, NFR. The 2002 Condepa showing suggests the party has no future.
Bolivia's ideological left is traditionally weak, and split into three broad categories: katarista, syndicalist, social-democrat. By the 2000s, the most significant party in the syndicalist tradition was MAS; the most significant party in the katarismo tradition was MIP; the most significant party in the social-democrat tradition was MBL.
Contents |
Ideological positions
syndicalism - MAS
katarista -MIP, MRTKL, MRTK
neopopulism - Condepa, UCS, NFR, UN
Marxism - PS, PS-1, PCB
Trotskyism - POR
Christian socialism - MBL
progressive - MSM
Christian democrat - PDC
neoliberal - MNR, ADN, MIR
center-right - ADN, MNR
center-left - MIR
Classifying Bolivia's political parties
In general, Bolivian political parties are poorly institutionalized and lack clearly specified ideological positions. While there are some ideologically orthodox parties, these have tended to lack electoral success. The general trend (since the 1930s) is to employ populist rhetoric and organizational strategies. Nevertheless, significant parties can be roughly categorized.
Systemic parties
The systemic parties are usually limited to the three parties that dominated the 1980s and 1990s. These parties constructed and maintained the post-democratization political "system" -- neoliberal economic policies and pacted democracy (parliamentarized presidentialism). These parties where:
- Acción Democrática Nacionalista (ADN)
- Movimiento de la Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR)
- Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR)
Neopopulist parties
Neopopulist parties are those that adopt a traditional Latin American populist rhetoric and organizational style, yet continue neoliberal economic policies or have readily allied with systemic (neoliberal) parties. These have recently included:
- Conciencia de Patria (CONDEPA)
- Frente de Unidad Nacional (UN)
- Nueva Fuerza Republicana (NFR)
- Unidad Cívica Solidaridad (UCS)
Anti-systemic parties
Anti-systemic parties are those that directly challenged the neoliberal economic system and did not participate in neoliberal governments. These have included:
- Izquierda Unida (IU)
- Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS)
- Movimiento Indígena Pachakuti (MIP)
