Bolivia: State and Nation Building in 200 Years of History. Changes and Continuities

Abstract

In commemorating the founding of Bolivia, this essay analyzes the long-term process of building the Bolivian state and nation. The analysis is based on three constituent factors: territory, form of government, and population. Achievements and progress are highlighted, as well as unfinished processes. It proposes as objectives for the present and future the achievement of full democracy, decentralization, and, embracing cultural and regional diversity, strengthening Bolivian identity as one of the fundamental factors for integration.