Bolivian Trotskyism and the National Revolution of 1952

Bolivian Trotskyism in the second half of the 20th century was one of the most influential Marxist movements in Latin America. It was the most authoritative left-wing party in a key period in modern Bolivian history, during the National Revo-lution of 1952 and then during the revolutionary regime of the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR). This ar-ticle offers an analysis of the policy of Bolivian Trotskyist groups and parties in the years of radical transformations in Bolivia after the 1952 revolution, a study of the evolution of the movement itself, its ties with international Trotskyism, its place in the revolutionary process and the reasons for the loss of the dominant influence on the left forces in the first years and the marginalization of parties and groups of the Trotskyist orientation. Bolivian Trotskyism managed to trans-form its ideas and ideas about revolution into those that pre-vailed in the workers' movement, making them attractive to the left wing of "revolutionary nationalism" that led the revo-lution. However, Trotskyism has not been able to overcome the contradiction between the rigidity of its doctrine and the practices of a narrow group unrelated to mass politics, relying on ideological and political influence on the leadership of the trade unions and the left sector of the MNR, which has led to the marginalization of the movement itself.

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Publication Details

Journal
Latin-american Historical Almanac
Published
2025-08-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.32608/2305-8773-2025-47-1-119-148
Primary Topic
Political and Social Dynamics in Chile and Latin America
Type
article
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article

Bolivian Trotskyism and the National Revolution of 1952

Andrey Schelchkov
Latin-american Historical Almanac
Political and Social Dynamics in Chile and Latin America
article

Bolivian Trotskyism and the National Revolution of 1952

Andrey Schelchkov
article en

Abstract

Bolivian Trotskyism in the second half of the 20th century was one of the most influential Marxist movements in Latin America. It was the most authoritative left-wing party in a key period in modern Bolivian history, during the National Revo-lution of 1952 and then during the revolutionary regime of the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR). This ar-ticle offers an analysis of the policy of Bolivian Trotskyist groups and parties in the years of radical transformations in Bolivia after the 1952 revolution, a study of the evolution of the movement itself, its ties with international Trotskyism, its place in the revolutionary process and the reasons for the loss of the dominant influence on the left forces in the first years and the marginalization of parties and groups of the Trotskyist orientation. Bolivian Trotskyism managed to trans-form its ideas and ideas about revolution into those that pre-vailed in the workers' movement, making them attractive to the left wing of "revolutionary nationalism" that led the revo-lution. However, Trotskyism has not been able to overcome the contradiction between the rigidity of its doctrine and the practices of a narrow group unrelated to mass politics, relying on ideological and political influence on the leadership of the trade unions and the left sector of the MNR, which has led to the marginalization of the movement itself.

Latin-american Historical AlmanacVol. 47
Openalex Percentile: Top 69%
Political and Social Dynamics in Chile and Latin America
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Bolivian Trotskyism and the National Revolution of 1952 — Andrey Schelchkov · Latin-american Historical Almanac (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS