The Private Sector and Democratization

Abstract

In seeking to identify the role of the private sector in making Bolivian democracy more ‘viable’ we are entering a polemical field which excites debate amongst politicians and academics alike. It is only possible to reach preliminary and tentative conclusions, not least given the uncertainties that continue to exist both within Bolivia and internationally. The tentative nature of this sort of reflection is underscored by the fact that it is a theme which has yet to be properly researched and for which a bibliography as such scarcely exists. Although studies on Bolivia of one kind or another have increased notably in recent years and the number of independent academic research centres has multiplied, the private sector has not been a major focus of academic interest. Indeed, it is worth pointing out at the outset (and it is something we return to later on) that there is no consensus over what we even mean by ‘the private sector’.