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Rativo De Las Coaliciones Democráticas En Bolivia (1952 Y 1985) María Teresa Pinto Las Élites Y El Pueblo, Sus Alianzas Y Sus Divi- Siones

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Rativo De Las Coaliciones Democráticas En Bolivia (1952 Y 1985) María Teresa Pinto Las Élites Y El Pueblo, Sus Alianzas Y Sus Divi- Siones Las élites y el pueblo, sus alianzas y sus divisiones. Estudio comparativo de las coaliciones democráticas en Bolivia (1952 y 1985) María Teresa Pinto Las élites y el pueblo, sus alianzas y sus divi- siones. Estudio compa- rativo de las coaliciones democráticas en Bolivia (1952 y 1985)* **María Teresa Pinto RESUMEN Bolivia es el único país de América del Sur que ha vivido una revolución popular de dimensiones políticas y sociales importantes. Tuvo una de las dictaduras más severas y represivas de la región andina y, en la actualidad, ha encontrado una estabilidad democrática. ¿Qué factores nos explican esta trayectoria? Y, más específicamente, ¿qué factores han contribuido a establecer los períodos democráticos en este país? El presente artículo pretende comparar dichos procesos democráticos a través de puntos de encuentro que permitan responder estas preguntas, además de conocer las condiciones que favorecen las alianzas de gobierno y la estabilidad democrática, y no la estabili- dad autoritaria. La autora utiliza la aproximación metodológica de Yashar, que propone analizar las coaliciones favorables al establecimiento de la democracia en un país determinado. Palabras claves: élites, alianzas, Bolivia. [88] The elites and the people, their alliances and divisions. A comparative study of the democratic coalitions in Bolivia (1952 and 1985) SUMMARY Bolivia is the only country of South America which has gone through a popular revolution of important political and social dimensions. It had to support one of the most severe and repressive dictatorships of the Andean region and at present has encountered democratic stability. Which factors help to explain this trajectory? And, furthermore, what factors have contributed to establish the democratic periods in this country? This article attempts to compare such democratic processes through points of encounter which permit to respond these questions, besides knowing the conditions which favor the government alliances and democratic stability and not authoritarian stability. The authoress uses Yashar’s methodological approximation which proposes to analyze coalitions in favor of the establishment of democracy in a determined country. Key words: elites, aliances, Bolivia. FECHA DE RECEPCIÓN: 10 / 10 / 2004 FECHA DE APROBACIÓN: 19 / 11 / 2004 análisis político n° 54, Bogotá, mayo-agosto, 2005: págs. 88-100 *Politóloga, profesora Universidad del Valle * Este documento fue realizado en el marco del programa Jóvenes Investigadores de Colciencias, en el cual participé en el 2002. Agradezco al grupo de investigación Conflicto e Instituciones en una Perspectiva Com- parada del Instituto de Estudios Políticos y Relaciones Internacionales –iepri– de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia y, muy especialmente, al profesor Francisco Gutiérrez, por todas las ideas compartidas y discutidas. ISSN0121-4705 análisis político n° 54, Bogotá, mayo-agosto, 2005: págs. 88-100 Las élites y el pueblo, sus alianzas y sus divisiones. Estudio comparativo de las coaliciones democráticas en Bolivia (1952 y 1985) María Teresa Pinto INTRODUCCIÓN tento al régimen dictatorial, la movilización de La trayectoria democrática de Bolivia es apa- los sectores populares y la visibilización de nue- sionante. Es el único país de América del Sur que vos actores gracias al cambio dentro de los dis- ha vivido una revolución popular de dimensiones cursos para el desarrollo. políticas y sociales importantes, tuvo una de las dictaduras más severas y represivas de la región Élite autoritaria dividida andina y, en la actualidad, ha encontrado una Las teorías de la democratización han argu- estabilidad democrática duradera. ¿Qué factores mentado que previamente a todo proceso de nos explican ésta trayectoria? Y, más específica- transición debe existir una división de las élites mente, ¿qué factores han contribuido a estable- entre el bando de los “duros” y el bando de los cer los períodos democráticos en este país?, el “blandos”1. Los primeros creen que la perpetua- primero de los cuales se estableció tras la “revo- ción del régimen autoritario no sólo es posible lución de abril” (entre 1952 y 1964) y, el segun- sino deseable, mientras que los segundos profe- do, la “democracia pactista” (desde 1985 hasta san la necesidad de instaurar un sistema demo- hoy), que se implantó tras la transición democrá- crático por diferentes razones: la búsqueda de tica del gobierno militar de Hugo Banzer. legitimidad electoral o de apoyo internacional, el En este contexto, el presente trabajo pretende deseo de retirarse a los cuarteles, entre otras. comparar dichos procesos democráticos a través Asimismo, Yashar2 considera que, para la fun- de puntos de encuentro que nos permitan res- dación de la democracia, se requiere del rompi- ponder a la pregunta: ¿Cuáles son las condicio- miento de la unidad política de las élites y que se nes que permiten que las alianzas de gobierno creen las oportunidades políticas para que nuevas concluyan en etapas de estabilidad democrática y coaliciones puedan asumir el control del aparato no de estabilidad autoritaria o de simple inestabi- estatal. Por ello, es importante analizar las condi- ventana jóvenes investigadores lidad? Para responder a dicha pregunta seguimos ciones que permiten que se forme esa coalición la aproximación metodológica de Yashar (1997) democratizadora. Como veremos, el caso de Boli- que propone trabajar las coaliciones que permi- via corrobora la afirmación de que es necesaria [89] ten el establecimiento de la democracia en un una fractura previa en el gobierno autoritario. Sin país determinado. embargo, al analizar este caso vemos cómo esta ruptura dentro de la élite autoritaria ha estado CONDICIONES PARA ESTABLECER UNA determinada por el tipo de régimen que existía COALICIÓN DEMOCRÁTICA al inicio del proceso de la transición. Para responder a la pregunta acerca de las condiciones que han permitido el establecimien- Tabla 1 to de la democracia en Bolivia analizamos las Régimen político a partir de los sectores de la coalición condiciones previas al establecimiento de la mis- y de la forma de cohesión3 ma, ya que consideramos que estas condiciones privilegian la posibilidad de acción de ciertos tipo de cohesión régimen tipo de coalición sectores sociales y median en el abanico de las Dictaduras Militares y sectores Cohesión a través reformistas populares oportunidades de coalición política. Considera- de la fuerza Dictaduras Militares mos que son tres las condiciones que han permi- reaccionarias y las élites tido establecer la democracia en Bolivia: la divi- Cohesión a través Democracia Sectores populares sión dentro de la élite autoritaria que daba sus- del consenso y élites 1 Por ejemplo, O’Donnell y Schmitter y Przeworski, para quienes la división dentro del bloque autoritario se da entre intransigentes y reformadores (o liberalizadores) y dentro del bloque de la oposición entre moderados y radicales: O’Donnell Guillermo y Philippe Schmitter, Transiciones desde un gobierno autoritario. Conclusiones tentativas sobre las democracias inciertas, Buenos Aires, Paidós, 1988; Przeworski Adam, Democracia y mercado. Re- formas económicas y políticas en Europa del Este y América Latina, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1991. Yashar también maneja esta hipótesis: Yashar Deborah, Demanding Democracy. Reform and Reaction in Costa Rica and Guatemala, 1870’s-1950’s, California, Stanford University Press, 1997. 2 Yashar Deborah, Idem., p. 16. 3 Para construir una tipología de los regímenes políticos que ha vivido Bolivia seguimos a Moore en el sentido de que la manera en que los diferentes sectores responden al reto de la cohesión social determina la forma que tome el régimen. Moore Barrington, Los orígenes sociales de la dictadura y la democracia. El señor y el campesi- nado en la formación del mundo moderno, Barcelona, Ediciones Península, 1973. análisis político n° 54, Bogotá, mayo-agosto, 2005: págs. 88-100 Las élites y el pueblo, sus alianzas y sus divisiones. Estudio comparativo de las coaliciones democráticas en Bolivia (1952 y 1985) María Teresa Pinto Tabla 2 Coaliciones de gobierno en Bolivia Tipo de gobierno Coalición en el gobierno Formas de acceso al poder (i) 1899- Modelo oligárquico de democracia Oligarquías mineras y agrícolas Constitucionales 7 1936 restringida(ii) agrupadas en el Partido Liberal y en el Golpes de Estado 2 Partido Conservador y sus fracciones. 1936- Regímenes militares nacionalistas Alianza popular militar. Constitucionales 1 1939 revolucionarios Golpes de Estado 2 1939- Regímenes militares del ‘Sexenio’ Alianza de los militares y Constitucionales 5 1952 la oligarquía. Golpes de Estado 3 1952- Democracia de partido mnr, sector obrero y Constitucionales 3 1964 hegemónico(iii) sector campesino. Insurrecciones populares 1 1964- Regímenes militares Militares del nacionalismo revolucio- Constitucionales 2 1971 nacionalistas nario. Golpes de Estado 5 Militares en alianza con los partidos Constitucionales 3 1971- Régimen militar de de derecha y la élite económica. Golpes de Estado 6 1982 Hugo Banzer Alianza entre los militares y la élite económica. 1982 Democracia pactista(iv) Acuerdo político multisectorial, se ex- Constitucionales 7 cluyó a la Central Obrera Boliviana Golpes de Estado 0 (i) La forma de acceso al poder constitucional incluye elecciones (fraudulentas o no), sucesiones por muerte o renuncia del presidente, y todos los otros mecanismos constitucionales de sucesión. Las insurrecciones populares incluyen aquellas formas de acceso al poder, como en 1952, donde
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