The Political Empowerment of the Cocaleros of Bolivia and Peru

This book offers a comparative analysis of the distinct experiences of the Peruvian and Bolivian cocaleros as political actors. In doing so, it illustrates how coca, an internationally criminalzsed good, affected the path and outcome of cocalero political empowerment in each case. The political landscapes of Bolivia and Peru have been impacted by the emergence of cocaleros as political actors. The experiences of these cocaleros have been strikingly different in the two countries: their paths, empowerment, and impact have varied significantly in scope and intensity. In Bolivia, cocaleros formed a social movement, launched a political party, and brought together a broad coalition that led to the election of their main leader as Bolivia's first indigenous president. In Peru, cocaleros formed a social movement in spite of serious obstacles, but then failed to articulate and act upon a unified political agenda. This book examines the different experiences of the Bolivian and Peruvian cocaleros, who became empowered through contentious action that originated in the defense of coca-an issue that is both de-legitimizing and divisive. In doing so, it illustrates how coca, an internationally criminalized good, affected the path and outcome of cocalero empowerment in each case Cover 1 Title 6 Copyright 7 Dedication 8 Contents 10 List of Figures and Tables 12 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations 14 Chapter 1 Introduction 17 Chapter 2 The Criminalization of Coca and Cocaine 42 Chapter 3 Peru: Formation of a Social Movement—Crisis and Repression during the Transition(s) to Democracy 67 Chapter 4 Bolivia: Formation of a Social Movement—Crisis and Opportunity during the Transition to Democracy 95 Chapter 5 Peru: Transformation of a Social Movement—Radicalization, Division, and Demobilization 124 Chapter 6 Bolivia: Transformation of a Social Movement—Convergence and Diffusion 158 Chapter 7 Conclusion: The Cocaleros of Bolivia and Peru Compared 196 Notes 214 Bibliography 220 Index 234 Front Matter....Pages i-xv Introduction....Pages 1-25 The Criminalization of Coca and Cocaine....Pages 27-51 Peru: Formation of a Social Movement—Crisis and Repression during the Transition(s) to Democracy....Pages 53-80 Bolivia: Formation of a Social Movement—Crisis and Opportunity during the Transition to Democracy....Pages 81-109 Peru: Transformation of a Social Movement—Radicalization, Division, and Demobilization....Pages 111-144 Bolivia: Transformation of a Social Movement—Convergence and Diffusion....Pages 145-182 Conclusion: The Cocaleros of Bolivia and Peru Compared....Pages 183-200 Back Matter....Pages 201-230