The steering wheel class during the process of political change in Bolivia

SOLEDAD STOESSEL

London

Conferencia; Revolutions in Bolivia; 2018

Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS)/ Anglo-Bolivian Society

The process of social and political change led by President Evo Morales since 2006 has been characterised by two aspects: government attempts to achieve a greater margin of state autonomy from different social groups, and presidential endeavors to reconstruct socio-political representation to contain a historically mobilised and conflictive civil society. The land transport sector, a key strategic sector in shaping the Andean economy, was criss-crossed by both these governmental objectives. The socio-economic groups associated with this sector have always had a powerful capacity to generate social conflict and mobilise robust electoral support. This paper explores the socio-political linkages between organised drivers represented by the Confederación Nacional de Choferes de Bolivia - National Confederation of Bolivian Drivers- and the national government. The purpose is to examine continuities and ruptures with the neoliberal cycle from two aspects: a) the policies and laws implemented to regulate the land transport sector and also curtail the power of these trade unions and b) the logic of political representation put in place to incorporate this trade union.