Bolivia: Legitimation Crisis and State (In)capacity

This research paper analyzes how the Covid-19 pandemic in Bolivia intersected with a pre-existing political crisis characterized by the perceived illegitimacy of the interim government led by Jeanine Áñez. The author argues that the conflict between the executive and legislative branches, combined with corruption scandals and uneven application of quarantine measures, has hindered a coordinated state response to the health crisis.

• The interim government of Jeanine Áñez faced a crisis of legitimacy after she announced her candidacy for President in January, a move viewed by civil society and political opponents as a betrayal of her mandate to simply call for new elections.
• A severe power struggle exists between the executive branch and the legislature, which is controlled by the Movement for Socialism (MAS). This conflict has led to the politicization of the pandemic response and the repeated postponement of national elections.
• The legislature blocked a $327 million loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) intended for pandemic relief, citing a lack of mandatory supporting documentation and alleging that funds were already being used illegally to cover financial gaps.
• The government's management of the health crisis was marred by corruption and perceived double standards. Specifically, the government paid over $27,000 per respirator—significantly above the $7,000 market price—for equipment that experts deemed unsuitable for intensive care.
• Quarantine measures were applied unevenly, with the President's daughter and political allies using official Bolivian Air Force flights to move around, while working-class emigrants were denied entry and stranded at borders.
• Public dissatisfaction with the interim government's handling of the pandemic led to massive protests and blockades, with many citizens believing that only a democratically elected government could effectively address the crisis.
• The executive and legislative branches clashed over the 'State of Exception Law,' with the legislature seeking to ensure military and police accountability and prevent the militarization of the pandemic response, while the executive claimed the law restricted the capabilities of security forces.

APA

Guimarães, A. S. (2020). Bolivia: Legitimation Crisis and State (In)capacity. Public Affairs Research Institute. https://pari.org.za/covid-19-states-and-societies-bolivia/

Chicago

Guimarães, Alice Soares. Bolivia: Legitimation Crisis and State (In)capacity. Public Affairs Research Institute, 2020. https://pari.org.za/covid-19-states-and-societies-bolivia/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Guimarães |first1=Alice Soares |title=Bolivia: Legitimation Crisis and State (In)capacity |publisher=Public Affairs Research Institute |date=11 September 2020 |url=https://pari.org.za/covid-19-states-and-societies-bolivia/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{guimares2020bolivia, author = {Guimarães, Alice Soares}, title = {{Bolivia: Legitimation Crisis and State (In)capacity}}, institution = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://pari.org.za/covid-19-states-and-societies-bolivia/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }