From Everyday Forms of Resistance to Nonviolent Action: Repertoires of Contention and Civil Resistance in Bolivia
Keywords:
Nonviolent action, civil resistance, repertoires of contention, Indigenous resistance, social movements, BoliviaAbstract
This study analyzes the development and transformation of resistance strategies among the Bolivian people across several crucial stages of their history, as well as the social, cultural, and political effects derived from this process. It emphasizes shifts in resistance strategies through the concept of “repertoires of contention” proposed by Charles Tilly (1986). Repertoires are sets of shared contentious tools used by social actors to oppose public decisions they perceive as unjust or threatening, as well as to demand rights, press for reforms, and defend collective interests, thus constituting a central element of contentious politics. Throughout its history, Bolivia’s predominantly Indigenous population has resorted to various forms of resistance, many of which have been inherited from earlier episodes, as these repertoires tend to be learned, shared, and reproduced across different historical moments. This article examines four key repertoires of contention: everyday forms of resistance, institutional political action, violent resistance, and nonviolent action or civil resistance. However, the analysis focuses particularly on the development of nonviolent action, given that over the past five decades, strategies based on civil resistance have proven especially effective in challenging military dictatorships, contributing to democratic restoration, and opposing neoliberal policies. The trajectory of social contention in the country shows that the population has identified and refined the most effective repertoires, transmitting them across generations for adaptation and improvement over time.
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