Changes in Bolivia’s Democracy 

V-Dem. (2025). Political regime (Bolivia). Our World in Data. 

This chart shows the changes in Bolivia’s political regime throughout history. The data indicate that Bolivia has had issues with attaining an operational democratic system as evidenced by the many changes in regime types that have occurred throughout its history. While Bolivia is being labelled as a democracy at the present time, it has yet to achieve a liberal democracy; therefore, the case of Bolivia shows that democracy can be eroded internally, even if it appears to function normally on the surface.

The Hidden Decline of Democracy in Bolivia 

Why isn’t the path to true democracy easy? The case of Bolivia shows that the system can be maintained on the outside but has decreased internally over time. In particular, before the recent presidential election, the president greatly expanded his power and changed the courts and institutions in favor of himself and the government. This process was carried out in a way that was difficult for citizens to recognize, and the Morales government (MAS) changed the rules to push through these changes and ignored the opposition even though it did not meet the conditions for a constitutional amendment. As a result, the public began to feel distrust in democracy, but it was difficult for society to recognize the collapse of the regime because formal procedures such as elections were still maintained. This phenomenon can be seen as a “quiet democratic collapse” in that it does not collapse suddenly like a coup but instead proceeded step by step. Therefore, Bolivia can be seen as a case where the institutional system is steadily changing, but in reality, it is undergoing a gradual undermining of democracy internally. 

Deutsche Welle. (2017, October 10). Bolivia: President Evo Morales’ bid to extend term limits sparks mass protest. 

Institutional Manipulation and the Concentration of Power 

This erosion of democracy is particularly evident in the process of concentrating power in the administration. Under the Morales administration, the judiciary progressively became politically influenced, eroding core democratic principles such as the separation of powers. In addition, the rule of law was also undermined as the constitution and institutions changed in favor of the ruling power. Although these changes appeared to follow legitimate procedures, they actually resulted in weakening governance from within. Morales, for example, tried to circumvent the constitutional term limit. In the 2016 referendum, citizens opposed his bid for a fourth term, but the government later tried to overturn it through the Constitutional Court. This decision ignored the will of the people and used legal institutions to undermine democracy from within. (Deutsche Welle, 2017). This illustrates the gradual erosion of the regime.  

The Gradual and Hidden Nature of Democratic Erosion 

The reason these shifts are more problematic is that they have been made by degrees. Because systems such as elections were maintained continuously, it was easy for the public to recognize that democracy still worked normally. However, in reality, the institutional functions gradually deteriorated, and these changes proceeded in a way that was difficult for society to clearly recognize. This is an important example of how the system can be weakened unnoticed. 

Active Civic Resistance in Bolivia 

Nevertheless, Bolivia shows different characteristics from other cases of democratic decline. In general, the public’s participation decreases in situations where the system is weak, but in Bolivia, indigenous groups and labor organizations have maintained active political participation. In fact, various social groups and trade unions are actively intervening in the political process by organizing protests against the government’s economic policy. For example, according to AP news reported in December 2025, when the Bolivian government abolished fuel subsidies, protesters, led by miners and trade unions, held large-scale protests in the capital city of La Paz, followed by road blockades and strikes nationwide. These protests reflected citizens’ dissatisfaction with rising prices and increased economic burdens. In addition, during the same period, traffic workers also went on strike against rising fuel prices, paralyzing the functions of major cities. 

In addition, in recent years, even various professional groups have appeared to participate in political action. According to a report by AP News in 2026, Bolivian clown trade unions and related workers also staged street protests against the government’s education policy, demanding livelihood issues and policy changes. These examples show that citizens are not simply passive beings, but active actors who exert direct pressure on the policy-making process. (Associated Press, 2026) 

An Unstable but Resilient Democracy 

Until recently, direct political participation such as street protests appeared actively in Bolivia, and at the same time, a tendency to express political preferences through elections is strengthening. This can be seen as a positive change in that it represents a way of resolving conflicts through democratic procedures. However, at the same time, low trust in the political system, economic difficulties, and unstable political structure remain factors that make democracy vulnerable. (GIGA, 2025). This shows that Bolivia’s regime is still in an unstable state.

Romero Ballivian, S. (2024). End of an era: MAS cedes power after twenty years of hegemony in Bolivia. Latinoamérica21. 

Political Transition and the Limits of Democratic Stability 

Meanwhile, political alterations are also emerging as the MAS government, which has dominated Bolivian politics for about 20 years, recently lost power. Problems and internal divisions accumulated during the long-term government eroded citizens’ trust in the government, which eventually led to a regime change. However, these changes can be seen as a positive political transition, but at the same time, they show that the institutional stability of democracy has not yet been fully secured. (Romero Ballivian, 2025). 

Conclusion: The Vulnerability and Resilience of Democracy 

In conclusion, the Bolivian example shows that democracy is not maintained simply by the existence of elections. If institutional checks and balances and the rule of law are weakened, democracy can be easily damaged internally, even if it is maintained on the outside. At the same time, the fact that civic participation is maintained actively seems to be a positive phenomenon that shows the possibility of restoring democracy. Therefore, Bolivia can be said to be a complex example of both the vulnerability and the possibility of recovery of the democracy.