Grassroots indigenous organisations: keys to the re-foundation of native self-government in Bolivia

In Bolivia, indigenous grassroots organisations have developed a historical journey for territorial restoration and the establishment of their autonomy. This qualitative, descriptive, multiple-case comparative study, carried out in two indigenous towns in Bolivia – Charagua (Chaco-Guarani) and San...

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Main Author: María Fernanda Herrera Acuña
Format: Article
Language:Catalan
Published: Institut d'Estudis de l'Autogovern 2025-06-01
Series:Revista d'Estudis Autonòmics i Federals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://presidencia.gencat.cat/web/.content/ambits_actuacio/desenvolupament_autogovern/iea/publicacions/REAF-JSG/REAF_articles/REAF-41-juny-2025/reaf-41-herrera.pdf
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author María Fernanda Herrera Acuña
author_facet María Fernanda Herrera Acuña
author_sort María Fernanda Herrera Acuña
collection DOAJ
description In Bolivia, indigenous grassroots organisations have developed a historical journey for territorial restoration and the establishment of their autonomy. This qualitative, descriptive, multiple-case comparative study, carried out in two indigenous towns in Bolivia – Charagua (Chaco-Guarani) and San Pedro de Totora Marka (Altiplano-Aymara) –, gives an account of the process carried out by their respective grassroots organisations and their systematic struggle and orientation towards territorial recovery and the establishment of their own governments. Both communities began and completed their process of conversion to self-government on the same date and under the same procedures, although the results were dissimilar: Charagua accepted its conversion and Totora rejected it. The analysis reveals the multiple tensions, struggles and agreements of the original grassroots organisations as promoters and mediators of the achievement of – or resistance to – autonomy, thanks to the exploitation or undermining of the structures of identity and political and governmental opportunities. At the same time, these organisations are presented as the appropriate instruments for the connection between identity-territoriality and State power.
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publisher Institut d'Estudis de l'Autogovern
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series Revista d'Estudis Autonòmics i Federals
spelling doaj-art-0430f154bdd14cecb1e50a9bc731938b2025-08-20T03:50:12ZcatInstitut d'Estudis de l'AutogovernRevista d'Estudis Autonòmics i Federals1886-26322025-06-014125530110.57645/20.8080.01.60Grassroots indigenous organisations: keys to the re-foundation of native self-government in BoliviaMaría Fernanda Herrera Acuña In Bolivia, indigenous grassroots organisations have developed a historical journey for territorial restoration and the establishment of their autonomy. This qualitative, descriptive, multiple-case comparative study, carried out in two indigenous towns in Bolivia – Charagua (Chaco-Guarani) and San Pedro de Totora Marka (Altiplano-Aymara) –, gives an account of the process carried out by their respective grassroots organisations and their systematic struggle and orientation towards territorial recovery and the establishment of their own governments. Both communities began and completed their process of conversion to self-government on the same date and under the same procedures, although the results were dissimilar: Charagua accepted its conversion and Totora rejected it. The analysis reveals the multiple tensions, struggles and agreements of the original grassroots organisations as promoters and mediators of the achievement of – or resistance to – autonomy, thanks to the exploitation or undermining of the structures of identity and political and governmental opportunities. At the same time, these organisations are presented as the appropriate instruments for the connection between identity-territoriality and State power.https://presidencia.gencat.cat/web/.content/ambits_actuacio/desenvolupament_autogovern/iea/publicacions/REAF-JSG/REAF_articles/REAF-41-juny-2025/reaf-41-herrera.pdfindigenous organisationsre-foundation of the stateindigenous peoplesidentity-territoryindigenous autonomy
spellingShingle María Fernanda Herrera Acuña
Grassroots indigenous organisations: keys to the re-foundation of native self-government in Bolivia
Revista d'Estudis Autonòmics i Federals
indigenous organisations
re-foundation of the state
indigenous peoples
identity-territory
indigenous autonomy
title Grassroots indigenous organisations: keys to the re-foundation of native self-government in Bolivia
title_full Grassroots indigenous organisations: keys to the re-foundation of native self-government in Bolivia
title_fullStr Grassroots indigenous organisations: keys to the re-foundation of native self-government in Bolivia
title_full_unstemmed Grassroots indigenous organisations: keys to the re-foundation of native self-government in Bolivia
title_short Grassroots indigenous organisations: keys to the re-foundation of native self-government in Bolivia
title_sort grassroots indigenous organisations keys to the re foundation of native self government in bolivia
topic indigenous organisations
re-foundation of the state
indigenous peoples
identity-territory
indigenous autonomy
url https://presidencia.gencat.cat/web/.content/ambits_actuacio/desenvolupament_autogovern/iea/publicacions/REAF-JSG/REAF_articles/REAF-41-juny-2025/reaf-41-herrera.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT mariafernandaherreraacuna grassrootsindigenousorganisationskeystotherefoundationofnativeselfgovernmentinbolivia