Text

theses

This dissertation describes the development and changes of nonviolent strategies of the indigenous people of Bolivia through crucial stages of Bolivian history and the social, cultural, and political effects this process has had in the country. The study addresses the benefits and effectiveness of nonviolent resistance over violence and will detail the gradual evolutionary process of nonviolent techniques and strategies from the early implementation of simple roadblocks to a complex variety of methods ranging from numerous forms of organized strikes to massive marches and protests.
The study focuses on the changes in nonviolent strategies by utilizing Charles Tilly’s concept of “repertoire of contention” (1986). Repertoires are various tools of contention shared between social actors used to oppose a public decision they consider unjust or even threatening. The objective of this dissertation is to explain the shifts and changes in Bolivia’s repertoires throughout its history as violent forms of action which were primarily utilized during the initial stages of resistance had almost entirely disappeared and displaced by as a set of well-organized nonviolent campaigns.
This dissertation is a single-country study that provides a contextual description of the changes and development of nonviolent resistance through four different stages of Bolivian history and the social, cultural, and political effects this process has had in the country. The indigenous people of Bolivia utilized forms of resistance that were inherited from previous episodes as repertoires were often learned, shared and repeated. The legacy of civil resistance has contributed and shaped the Bolivian national identity.

ETD_9964

Ph.D.

Includes bibliographical references

Includes vita

doi:10.7282/t3-9m4s-tt77

ETD doctoral

The author owns the copyright to this work.