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Social Mobility and Economic Development: The Vital Parameters of the Bolivian Revolution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

C. Fred Bergsten
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Extract

In 1952, Bolivia experienced the most thorough-going social revolution in Latin America since the Mexican upheaval early in this century. In the twelve years which have followed, the Andean republic has made remarkable progress in breaking down centuries-old societal gaps and forging an integrated nation. The Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR), which inspired the revolution and which has retained firm political leadership of the nation, has played a vital role in politically activating the traditional Indian segment of the population. Prior to 1952, there had been very little communication between this indigenous majority and the Westarnized minority; this “vertical” cleavage was ona major barrier to the political socialization of Bolivia. On a “horizontal” plane, the process was further complicated by cleavages among the various Indian groups and, predominantly along regional lines, among the relatively homogeneous whites.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Inter-American Studies , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , July 1964 , pp. 367 - 375
Copyright
Copyright © University of Miami 1964

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References

1 Political socialization is defined as “induction into the political culture,” resulting in a set of attitudes toward the political system, its roles and actors. “It includes knowledge of, values affecting, and feelings toward the inputs of demands and claims into the system, and its authoritative outputs.” Almond, Gabriel A. and Coleman, James S., ed., The Politics of the Developing Areas (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1960), pp. 27-8.Google Scholar

2 Primarily the Quechua and Aymara, descendants of the Incas who have traditionally populated the altiplano, and the numerous smaller ethnic groups of the eastern lowlands.

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10 Ibid., p. 22. Results of inquiries concerning these functions are presented in tabular form. Fifty family heads in each of three Quechua-speaking communities were included in the survey.

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