Why Bolivia's MAS Collapsed

Abstract: This essay examines the rise and fall of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), once a transformative force in Bolivian politics. Rooted in indigenous mobilization, the MAS created unprecedented inclusion and a decade of dominance but succumbed to centralization of power, weakened pluralism, and leadership succession failures. Internal rivalries between Evo Morales and President Luis Arce fragmented the party, undermined governance, and eroded ties with social movements. By 2025, electoral losses and judicial intervention deepened the crisis, leaving the MAS fractured and marginalized. The essay concludes that while the MAS's collapse signals democratic alternation, the party's enduring social base may enable its future resurgence.