Plurinationalism

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Plurinationality, plurinational, or plurinationalism is defined as the coexistence of two or more sealed or preserved national groups within a polity [1] (an organized community or body of peoples [2] ). In plurinationalism, the idea of nationality is plural, meaning there are many nationals within an organized community or body of peoples. Derived from this concept, a plurinational state is the existence of multiple political communities and constitutional asymmetry. The usage of plurinationality assists in avoiding the division of societies within a state or country. Furthermore, a plurinational democracy recognizes the multiple demoi (common people or populace) [3] within a polity. [1] Reportedly the term has its origin in the Indigenous political movement in Bolivia where it was first heard of in the early 1980s. [4] As of 2022 Bolivia and Ecuador are constitutionally defined as plurinational states. [5]

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Plurinationalism in Chile

In Chile constitutional plurinationalism has been a topic of debate. Plurinationalism was not a concept in the constitutional reforms proposed by Michelle Bachelet's second government (2014–2018), yet the proposed reforms included recognition of Chile's indigenous peoples. [6] The 2022 proposed Political Constitution of the Republic of Chile defined Chile as "plurinational", however this proposal was rejected by a large margin in September 2022. [4] [7] Prior to the dismissal of the proposed constitution the issue of pluranationalism was noted by polls and El País as particularly divisive in Chile. [8] The creation of a "plurinational region" in southern Chile has been proposed by some scholars and activists as a solution to the Mapuche conflict. [9]

Plurinationalism has been criticized by José Rodríguez Elizondo as being used to advance Bolivian claims against Chile for sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Chile</span> Historical development of Chile

The territory of Chile has been populated since at least 3000 BC. By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors began to colonize the region of present-day Chile, and the territory was a colony between 1540 and 1818, when it gained independence from Spain. The country's economic development was successively marked by the export of first agricultural produce, then saltpeter and later copper. The wealth of raw materials led to an economic upturn, but also led to dependency, and even wars with neighboring states. Chile was governed during most of its first 150 years of independence by different forms of restricted government, where the electorate was carefully vetted and controlled by an elite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Bolivia</span> Political system of the Plurinational State of Bolivia

The politics of Bolivia takes place in a tree of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president is head of state, head of government and head of a diverse multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament. Both the Judiciary and the electoral branch are independent of the executive and the legislature. After the 2015 election, 53.3% of the seats in national parliament were held by women, a higher proportion of women than that of the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Bolivia</span> Head of state and government of Bolivia

The president of Bolivia, officially known as the president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is head of state and head of government of Bolivia and the captain general of the Armed Forces of Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitution of Bolivia</span> Supreme law of Bolivia

The current Constitution of Bolivia came into effect on 7 February 2009 when it was promulgated by President Evo Morales, after being approved in a referendum with 90.24% participation. The referendum was held on 25 January 2009, with the constitution being approved by 61.43% of voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vice President of Bolivia</span> Second highest political office in Bolivia

The vice president of Bolivia, officially known as the vice president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is the second highest political position in Bolivia. The vice president replaces the president in his definitive absence or others impediment and is the ex officio President of the Legislative Assembly.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Chile since 10 March 2022. In June 2021, the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, announced that his government would sponsor a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The Senate of Chile passed the legislation on 21 July 2021, and the Chamber of Deputies gave its approval on 23 November 2021. Disagreements on some aspects of the bill led to the formation of a mixed commission to discuss it. Both chambers of the National Congress approved an identical version of the bill on 7 December 2021. President Piñera signed the legislation into law on 9 December, and it was published in the Diario Oficial de la República de Chile on 10 December. The law took effect 90 days later, with the first same-sex marriages taking place on 10 March 2022.

Indigenous peoples in Chile or Native Chileans form about 13% of the total population of Chile. According to the 2017 census, almost 2,200,000 people declare having indigenous origins. Most Chileans are of partially indigenous descent; however, indigenous identification and its legal ramifications are typically reserved to those who self-identify with and are accepted within one or more indigenous groups.

Bolivia has recognised same-sex civil unions since 20 March 2023 in accordance with a ruling from the Plurinational Constitutional Court. The court ruled on 22 June 2022 that the Civil Registry Service (SERECI) was obliged to recognise civil unions for same-sex couples and urged the Legislative Assembly to pass legislation recognising same-sex unions. The court ruling went into effect upon publication on 20 March 2023. The ruling made Bolivia the seventh country in South America to recognise same-sex unions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coordinadora Arauco-Malleco</span> Indigenist organization

Coordinadora Arauco-Malleco (CAM) is a radical, militant indigenous organization engaged in political violence in pursuit of attaining an autonomous Mapuche state in the territory they describe as Wallmapu.

The Mapuche conflict involves indigenous Mapuche communities, also known as the Araucanians, located in Araucanía and nearby regions of Chile and Argentina. It is often referred to as a conflict between the Mapuche and the Chilean government or state, despite the fact that there have been a variety of other actors participating in the conflict such as the Spanish Empire as well as corporations such as big forestry companies and their contractors. In the past decade of the conflict, Chilean police and some non-indigenous landowners have been confronted by militant Mapuche organizations and local Mapuche communities in the context of the conflict. Some scholars argue the conflict is an indigenous self-determination conflict, others like Francisco Huenchumilla see it as the expression of a wider political conflict that affects all of Chile given the existence of other indigenous groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plurinational Electoral Organ</span> Electoral organ in Bolivia

The Plurinational Electoral Organ is the independent electoral branch of the government of Bolivia. It replaced the National Electoral Court in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fernando Huanacuni</span>

Fernando Huanacuni Mamani is a Bolivian politician, lawyer and researcher. He served as the Foreign Minister of Bolivia from 2017 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitutional Convention (Chile)</span> Chilean Constituent Assembly

The Constitutional Convention was the constituent body of the Republic of Chile in charge of drafting a new Political Constitution of the Republic after the approval of the national plebiscite held in October 2020. Its creation and regulation were carried out through Law No. 21,200, published on 24 December 2019, which amended the Political Constitution of the Republic to include the process of drafting a new constitution. The body met for the first time on 4 July 2021. Chilean President Sebastian Piñera said, "This Constitutional Convention must, within a period of 9 months, extendable for an additional 3 months, draft and approve a new constitution for Chile, which must be ratified by the citizens through a plebiscite." It ended its functions and declared itself dissolved on 4 July 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elisa Loncón</span> Chilean Indigenous rights activist

Elisa Loncón Antileo is a Mapuche linguist and indigenous rights activist in Chile. In 2021, Loncón was elected as one of the representatives of the Mapuche people for the Chilean Constitutional Convention. Following in the inauguration of the body, Loncón was elected President of the Constitutional Convention. This role, along with her academic career, has placed her at the center of public attention and controversy. In particular, her formal education became a subject of public scrutiny when the Council for Transparency (CPLT) demanded the release of her academic records, igniting a debate about the intersection of race, class, and public transparency in Chile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natividad Llanquileo</span>

Natividad Llanquileo Pilquimán is a Mapuche lawyer and human rights activist. Llanquileo was noted for her role as a spokesperson during the 2010 Mapuche hunger strike.

Isabel Selena Godoy Monárdez is a Qulla activist and politician in Chile. A former political prisoner during the Chilean military dictatorship, Godoy was elected in 2021 to represent the Qulla people at the Constitutional Convention.

Rosa Catrileo Arias is a Mapuche lawyer and politician who serves as a member of the Chilean Constitutional Convention. As an attorney, she has primarily focused on protecting indigenous land rights in the Mapuche conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isabella Mamani</span> Chilean attorney and politician

Isabella Brunilda Mamani Mamani is an Aymara attorney and politician in Chile. In 2021, she was elected to represent the Aymara people in a reserved seat on the Chilean Constitutional Convention.

References

  1. 1 2 Keating, Michael. Plurinational Democracy in a Post-Sovereign Order Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine , Queen's Papers on Europeanisation No 1/2002
  2. polity, dictionary.reference.com
  3. demos, thefreedictionary.com
  4. 1 2 Burns, Nick (2022-08-29). "Chile Could Become "Plurinational." What Does That Mean?". Americas Quarterly . Retrieved 2022-09-03.
  5. Lankes, Ana (2022-09-02). "The Contentious Vote in Chile That Could Transform Indigenous Rights". The New York Times . Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  6. Soto Martínez, Víctor (2019-11-29). Análisis comparativo entre la Constitución vigente y el proyecto de reforma constitucional de Michelle Bachelet (Report) (in Spanish). Vol. 155–19. Library of Congress of Chile.
  7. Vanessa Buschschlüter. "Chile constitution: Voters overwhelmingly reject radical change". BBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  8. Montes, Rocío (2022-08-31). "El debate sobre el reconocimiento del "Estado plurinacional" divide a los chilenos". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  9. Marimán, José; Valenzuela, Esteban (2015). "El nuevo ciclo de movilización mapuche en Chile: la emergencia de la CAM y el proyecto autonomista para una región plurinacional" [The new cycle of mapuche mobilization in Chile: the emergence of the CAM and the project for a plurinational autonomy region]. Araucaria. Revista Iberoamericana de Filosofía, Política y Humanidades (in Spanish) (34): 279–301.
  10. Bruna, Roberto (2022-07-18). "Diplomático José Rodríguez Elizondo teme que la plurinacionalidad sea funcional a la estrategia marítima boliviana". El Mostrador (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-09-21.

Further reading