Introduction: The “Cultural Democratic Revolution” of Evo Morales

In 2006, Bolivia's Constituent Assembly marked a pivotal moment in the country's political history by redefining its constitutional framework to reflect indigenous representation and decolonization. The assembly, convened under President Evo Morales, represented a significant shift from centuries of white-mestizo dominance, with 225 delegates—many indigenous—participating in a historic event that symbolized the 'cultural democratic revolution.' The resulting 2009 constitution declared Bolivia a plurinational state, granting indigenous peoples rights to autonomy, self-government, and cultural recognition. This study captures the significance of this transition, highlighting how indigenous voices reshaped national identity and governance through constitutional reform.

(Ed.). (2020). Introduction: The “Cultural Democratic Revolution” of Evo Morales. The Indigenous State, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780520967304-003