How to Decolonize Democracy: Indigenous Governance Innovation in Bolivia and Nunavut, Canada

Abstract

This paper analyzes the successes, failures, and lessons learned from the innovative experiments in decolonization that are currently underway in Bolivia and Nunavut, Canada. Bolivia and Nunavut are the first large-scale tests of Indigenous governance in the Americas. In both cases, Indigenous peoples are a marginalized majority who have recently assumed power by way of democratic mechanisms. In Bolivia, the inclusion of direct, participatory, and communitarian elements into the democratic system, has dramatically improved representation for Indigenous peoples. In Nunavut, the Inuit have also opted to pursue self-determination through a public government system rather than through an Inuit-specific self-government arrangement. The Nunavut government seeks to incorporate Inuit values, beliefs, and worldviews into a Canadian system of government. In both cases, the conditions for success are far from ideal. Significant social, economic, and institutional problems continue to plague the new governments of Bolivia and Nunavut. Based on original research in Bolivia and Nunavut, the paper finds that important democratic gains have been made. I argue that the emergence of new mechanisms for Indigenous and popular participation has the potential to strengthen democracy by enhancing or stretching liberal democratic conceptions and expectations. ResumenEste artículo analiza los éxitos, fracasos y lecciones aprendidas de los innovadores experimentos de descolonización que se están llevando a cabo actualmente en Bolivia y Nunavut, Canadá. Bolivia y Nunavut son los primeros experimentos de gobernanza indígena a gran escala en las Américas. En ambos casos, los pueblos indígenas son mayorías marginadas que recientemente han asumido el poder por medio de mecanismos democráticos. En Bolivia, la inclusión de elementos directos, participativos y comunitarios en el sistema democrático ha mejorado dramáticamente la representación de los pueblos indígenas. En Nunavut, los inuit también han optado por gestionar la autodeterminación a través de un sistema de gobierno público en lugar de un acuerdo de autogobierno específicamente inuit. El gobierno de Nunavut intenta incorporar valores, creencias y visiones del mundo inuit en el sistema de gobierno canadiense. En ambos casos, las condiciones para el éxito están lejos de ser ideales. Considerables problemas sociales, económicos e institucionales siguen afectando a los nuevos gobiernos de Bolivia y Nunavut. Pese a ello, y en base a investigaciones realizadas en Bolivia y Nunavut, el artículo da cuenta de importantes ganancias democráticas y propone que el surgimiento de nuevos mecanismos para la participación indígena y popular tiene el potencial de fortalecer la democracia al ampliar las concepciones y expectativas democráticas liberales. Palabras claves democracia diversificadora, experimentos descolonizadores en Bolivia y Nunavut, gobernanza de recursos, gobernanza participativa, movimiento indígena inuit

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“…It should therefore be required of those tasked with managing and coordinating the establishment or strengthening of national M&E systems to ensure the engagement of citizens. Citizens may become disengaged if they are not included in deliberations over decisions that may have a direct impact on them (Rice 2016). Moreover, indigenous communities who have resilient traditions of collective decision-making may be especially prone to this kind of disengagement if they are not meaningfully included in decision-making processes (Rice 2016:225), which could jettison the potential gains of co-production.…”

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Democratic Theory's Evasion of Race

“…34 Similarly, Roberta Rice maintains that decolonization requires "the revalorization, recognition, and re-establishment of indigenous cultures, traditions, and values within the institutions, rules, and arrangements that govern societies." 35 Binaya Subedi usefully contrasts deficit, accommodationist, and decolonized approaches to curriculum reform, suggesting that decolonization involves antiessentialism, contrapuntal readings, and ethical solidarity. 36 Applying these ideas to the rethinking of democracy is powerful.…”

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