Water Security and Equity for Peasant and Indigenous Communities in the Bolivian Highlands

Abstract

This chapter addresses the historical background of water regulations and policies in Bolivia in relation to water security and equity for peasant and indigenous populations and highlights how power relations shape these policies. The historical background of Bolivia’s (lack of) water legislation has been influenced by both neoliberal policies and social protests against neoliberalism. Bolivia underwent significant political change with the first democratically elected indigenous president, Evo Morales, which has also shaped the policies of redistribution and recognition. Such attempts by Evo Morales to transform the power structures among state, society and the market towards greater economic and cultural social justice are, however, confronted by numerous challenges in practice.