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Bolivian Constitution on "Bolivia’s controversial constitution"

Bolivian Constitution — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:29:41 +0100

Enter discussions about the New Bolivian Constitution translated to English, click http://www.BolivianConstitution.com

Luis Valle on "Bolivia’s controversial constitution"

Luis Valle — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:33:27 +0100

The Constitution of Bolivia enacted by president Evo Morales Ayma - English Version - Available June 26th, 2009.

nickbuxton@yahoo.co.uk on "Bolivia’s controversial constitution"

nickbuxton@yahoo.co.uk — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:09:34 +0000

I included this in an email to you and think it is worth repeating here, but I think it is important to emphasise that the new constitution talks of plurinational state, whereas the old one talked of pluricultural. To talk of a State made up of many nations is a qualitative difference because nations implies territory, sovereignty and in this constitution is tied up with significant proposals of indigenous autonomy which includes complete control over renewable natural resources and shared control with the State over non-renewable resources. This change would be quite historic and innovative and introduces the whole concept of plurality of visions and sovereignty transecting across the State. It is also strongly opposed, especially by a Santa Cruz elite, who see it as undermining departmental authority and threatening concentrated landholdings held by some of their key leaders. There is a lot more to say but I think it is also important to highlight that although the constitution didn't get approved by two-thirds of the overall delegates, it very nearly did on most articles with 165 of 255 delegates passing them (that's 65% if my calculator is not wrong and included several representatives from PODEMOS as well (not just those who came to object)). So the size and representativity of the opposition shouldn't be over-exaggerated, although their control over the media means they normally are. After all, this constitution has been part of a long process of struggle by social movements in Bolivia and, although it has its flaws, represents a large swathe of opinion in Bolivia who want to bring a neo-colonial and neoliberal State to an end.

m.jamil on "Poland after PiS: handle with care"

m.jamil — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:07:48 +0000

Europe, a god awful geographical nightmare compounded by 2500 years of mobilizing myths to legitimate empires, city states, colonies, and more recently nation-states and unions of nation-states. This all drives geographers mad. What legitimacy has this Eurasian peninsula of smaller peninsulas as a “continent” other than hubris? What historical -geographical significance do the Ural mountains have compared to the Alps and Pyrenees? French say that Africa begins on the Spanish side (west) of the Pyrenees. Germans say African begins south of the Alps (Italy). Mediterranean connotes many different representations to those who live around its shores, and those who live farther away. As Braudel and more recently Horden & Purcell describe are a unity and diversity that cannot be easily labelled throughout history as of “Europe, Africa or Asia ..” So, assuming Europe to have some validity as a geographical term, the Iberian peninsula divided from West-Central Europe, is easy to label as Southwest Europe, unless we see it as a historical and future bridge linking it to North west Africa. Italy, that most contested peninsula, is easily identified as a southern extension of west-central Europe almost touching Africa, with Sicily almost touching Tunis. The great Northern peninsula – Scandinavia is self evident, although the Danish thumb connects to mainland west-central northern Europe. Balkans? Impossible to think of that historically contentious ethnically mixed mountainous peninsula as anything other than what it is — a balkanized southeastern peninsula & insular fracture zone extending down the coast of Asia Minor / the Levant / or whatever you want to call the lands of modern Turkey, Syria and Lebanon. To be rational, Lebanon’s Francophone Maronite Christians aligned with the Roman Pope probably have as much historical-ideological right to European identity as an ethno-genetic mix of so-called Cypriot Greeks with Orthodox, Slavic / Cyrillic roots Then there is the heartland of Europe … somewhere between the Rhine and god knows which river to the east … Anyway, that is a sprinkling of geographic approaches to European regions, but obviously east v. west has more ideological & emotional baggage than north v. south … & god only knows why any place would not want to be considered as central Europe .. after all center is centre, and central to whatever geographically bizarre entity we define as Europe

m.jamil on "Poland after PiS: handle with care"

m.jamil — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:59:23 +0000

Neal Ascherson's brilliant explorations into black sea geography & history need parallels in Poland/ Ukraine, whatever these countries mean in history. Geography, as Ascherson points out really defines Poland into east & west, likewise Ukraine – with added dimensions of roman catholic west v. orthodox east … in fact, we need to go back to roman era split into eastern & western empires to understand issues of the near past, oder-wistla, curzon’s line, danzig corridor, etc, for a country that shares borders with 5-6 other countries, depending on kalingrad … historically Polish, Prussian, Lithuanian military elites alternated rule over Europe’s most backward agrarian peasantry, still under feudal serfdom and using Neolithic agricultural technologies well into the 20th century … Even under communist party rule, urban intellectual and artistic elites had vast privileges, Europe’s hottest jazz scene without Black American expats, along with innovative classical music, a dynamic film industry (polanski’s “knife in the water”), vibrant graphic & visual arts, advanced urban & transport planning at par with anywhere else in Europe, cutting edge economic theory … & a strong, skilled urban industrial proletariat – that was western & urban Poland under soviet domination … Polish-American immigrants were, and still are, split along class lines, with polish jokes at the expense of working class, while professional & academic elites are invisible & seldom mix with their blue collar brethren .. at the close of wwii we hosted a polish family who had escaped through Russia & on to North America, a former rector of Poland’s oldest school of philosophy & colleague of my father – he was my teacher and mentor … but also allowed me to understand the vast gulf that existed between their family and the majority of polish kids in my catholic school who came from early 20th century immigrants — miners, peasants, labourers, big strong kids who stoically played football as meat for the line, and had a generally deserved reputation as not the brightest lamps in the socket … I would love to find an extended article by Ascherson using his skills of readable narrative to bring to life historical representation, nuances, and differences that make a difference … what we would find … perhaps Poland is only a metaphor – the little trumpet boy of Krakow … “the Mongols are coming, arm yourselves” but that was for the mounted knights, the Polish elite whose strong military tradition was feared by Stalin who ordered their execution, but not the peasant soldiers .. who were no danger once Polish intellectual and cultural leadership was exterminated … Flat lands offer few natural geographic boundaries other than rivers … but when you reach the southern borders of the Pomerian plain, hills of Sudetenland & Carpathian mountains, the ethno-ecological demographics shift … in short all borders of Poland are historically ambiguous, and imposed by war and the winners .. but peoples in these transition zones have more ethno-national identity (however much they are small minorities) than loyalties to grand ideas of nation … after all rulers and states come and go, but life changes very little in these rural hinterlands …

klaus on "Poland after PiS: handle with care"

klaus — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 02:43:45 +0000

Dear Iannis, thank you for taking the time to elaborate on your previous comments. They now make perfect sense and I am no longer offended. I can even see your point and will take it to heart. Actually, I employed the term Central European wrongly. The Poles have always regarded themselves as Central Europeans and are now, after joining the EU, aspiring to become fully integrated into Western Europe (there I go again, but we cannot really do away with all such delineating, defining terms, can we?) Turning their backs on the first of the Kaczynskis is an important step in this process, though by far not the first. I wish them well in their endeaver and fervently hope that their inclusion will eventually soften their long-standing and fully justified distrust of the motives of Westerners. Now allow me to reflect on your comment: "We are not Balkan, we are Westerners. We belong to Western Europe." Does it not spring from that same "them vs. us mentality" that you warned me against in your posting "The lost centre..."? But I do not want to berate you for making it, because this mentality is deeply rooted in our genes. Afterall, we evolved as a species as members of small bands which increased the chance of survival. Altruism developed to include the members of the band, because it enhanced the survival of the individual. It never extended to outsiders. Thus, we are what we are. Had we evolved in large herds, such as wildebeests, we might not have any problems with parochialism. I do not wish to "Eulen nach Athen tragen." (Carrying owls to Athens, where there allegedly were many already - meaning: to do what is needless.) I.e. I do not need to tell you, the highly-educated Greek, that Greece is the birthplace of western culture and civilization. Would there even be such a thing without ancient Greece? While the neighborhood ("them") may have rubbed off somewhat on its people in the course of millennia, Greece will always be recognized for the impact it has had on a large part of mankind and will never have to worry about its special status; at least not among the knowledgeable which is really what counts. The ignorant and the envious may begrudge you this pedestal, but they can never take it from you. It will last as long as western civilization endures.

ianniscarras on "Poland after PiS: handle with care"

ianniscarras — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:36:40 +0000

Dear Klaus, My comment was not meant to be condescending, so if it was I apologise. Indeed I agree with the thrust of what you wrote. My point was not even one particular to Polish history, but rather to the history of Europe in general. There is a repeated tendency to blame ills on the east and to continually redefine geographical terminology along an axis West=good, East=bad. This is what Tudjman was up to on his visit to Clinton back then when when he insisted that Croatia was Central European (in other words definitely not Balkan). To cite just one other example of this type of name game, the main opposition newspaper in the Turkish controlled part of Cyprus was named Europa, until it was renamed Afrika (rather wittily I think). I am sensitive to this type of name game because it is played continually in my own country. Ask Greeks if they consider their country to be Balkan, and the answer will frequently be a dazed and puzzled look. We are not Balkan, we are Westerners. We belong to Western Europe. My point is not that this is right or wrong, simply that it is unhelpful. Rather than engage with the problems common to the region, it creates a denial mentality and engenders a false (in my opinion) sense of superiority visa vi those further east (or in the case of Greece further north and east) who share many of the same challenges. It is this us versus them mentality which worries me in any division of Europe between Western, Central and Eastern, or Western and Balkan, and so on and so forth. Hence my comment. As far as Poland is concerned I am happy for it to be termed Western European, or Eastern European, or even Central European, but probably not Balkan. Iannis Carras, Athens, Greece.

tonyleavy on "Poland after PiS: handle with care"

tonyleavy — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 20:37:18 +0000

anthony leavy Your article on the Polish election was an excellent resume of the Polish political situation that gave rise to a change of government. Since we had an election in Ireland in early summer in which we re-elected the same major party to government for the third time the recent change of government in Poland disturbs me. Four phrases in your article jumped out at me and described the Irish situation to a T. The 'domination of the media' by 'a pigsty of patronage' has led to 'the hopelessly compromised National Broadcasting Committee' which has ensured that we are now essentially 'a one party state'. Poland's independent stance in relation to its more dominant neighbours contrasts starkly with that of Ireland. During our recent election the prime minister of the United Kingdom, which misgoverned Ireland for nearly eight hundred years, made a blatant, partisan,and some would say, successful intervention in our election campaign on behalf of the ruling party. He treated this country as if it was still a colony. Yet not one member of our so-called free press objected.

klaus on "Poland after PiS: handle with care"

klaus — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 05:10:31 +0000

I.C., thank you very much for your condescending lecture on my use of the term 'Central European'. It marks another, maybe new, height in tortured political correctness. Are you scanning cyberspace for a chance to unload that heavy burden of sophistry that seems to weigh upon you? Yes, being part of central Europe has always been a mainspring of Polish identity. Witness her unwavering quest for the pearl of the Baltic, Danzig. Yes, young and even older Poles who have contact with western Europe want to join it. Ever since the Iron Curtain lifted, I have met them in Poland and I have met them in Canada where I have been living for more than 50 years, because the place of my birth was handed to Poland to atone for the Austrian Hitler's sins. You recommend to "Watch such terms as they represent a them versus us mentality..." Oh, dear, how rude of me and I do so hope that your and the Polish psyche will in time recover from this assault on your sensitivities! And you have even outed me as having my "own historical prejudices", yet. Professor, you think you've got it all figured out but let me assure you, you need to attend a whole lot of remedial classes in the school that is called life. What exactly is your point in making Tudzman part of your argument?

ianniscarras on "Poland after PiS: handle with care"

ianniscarras — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:32:13 +0100

I agree with you klaus that the article is a good one. There is nothing particularly praiseworthy however in being Central European. I will not run through the history of the various uses and misuses of the term other than to mention that most recently it was a certain President Tudjman on a visit to President Clinton in the USA that kept insisting on the "centrality" of his undoubtedly European country. Watch such terms, they represent a them versus us mentality which reveals more about ones own historical prejudices that about the actual progress of the countries involved. I.C.

klaus on "Poland after PiS: handle with care"

klaus — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 08:10:16 +0100

I am a German and I also find the article to be right on. It frankly and openly names the problems the PiS regime has posed for the EU and Germany , in particular. I visited the country last May and was astounded by the progress it has made since 1993 when I was there before. Even the author's reference to the "German/Russian" dichotomy I can only confirm. The former German territories are thriving! Let us hope that the EU membership will transform Poland into a truly central European country and all that entails.

Bartosz Wasilewski on "Poland after PiS: handle with care"

Bartosz Wasilewski — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:08:48 +0100

P.S I have got one objection. Comparision PiS's Poland to Vladimir Putin's Russia is really too hard ;) www.ego.wot.pl a new Internet newspaper

Bartosz Wasilewski on "Poland after PiS: handle with care"

Bartosz Wasilewski — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:35:05 +0100

Good afternoon :) I'm Pole and I totally agree with author. I would like to congratulate him for being objective, especially describing Poland's foreign politic. www.ego.wot.pl a new Internet newspaper

Tony Marone on "Clearing the fence"

Tony Marone — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:20:48 +0100

Good objective stuff from Steven Rogers who obviously has no agenda of his own. The fact is that the G8 "World Leaders" don't, or shouldn't lead the world, they rarely, if ever have a majority from their country's electorate, let alone the electorate of the world. And they often only get involved internationally after making a mess or having their hands tied in their own countries. Let's be clear, few want or expect the protestors to start running the world, but they need to be there to clearly indicate that we don't all approve of the status quo. Chavez may make mistakes - who doesn't - but he has had no involvement in the circa 70,000 body count in Iraq, neither has he pissed on middle-eastern sensibilities to the extent of becoming a recruiting Sergeant for Al-Qaeda - unlike other "World Leaders" we can all name.

Steven Rogers on "Clearing the fence"

Steven Rogers — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:13:19 +0100

This notion of "the few inside and the many outside" needs to be re-examined a bit more critically. The "few" inside are at least elected or appointed by those who are. They can lay reasonable claim to representing a constituency. They are to some degree accountable: they or those who appointed them have to face re-election. The "many" outside are not really so many at all, a few thousand, distinguished mostly by the volume of their voices. They claim to represent "the people", but they're unelected, unrepresentative, and completely unaccountable. The accountability deficit outside the fence is far greater than that within. It is entirely true that the people inside the fence have not been able to come up with convincing solutions to many pressing problems. That's because the problems are complex and not amenable to simple solution, and because the individuals concerned are accountable to constituencies with diverse priorities. They also operate under the singular disadvantage of knowing that their proposals may actually be tried. The loud crowd outside the fence is free to wallow in utopian mantra-chanting to their hearts' delight, secure in the knowledge that their proposals will never be submitted to the grim light of reality. On wonders if anyone outside the fence bothered to ask Venezuela's education minister about the use of the nation's schools to promote the cult of Hugo, or the draconian moves aimed at consolodating state power in a single person, or the closing of media outlets that ask inconvenient questions, or the dole-outs aimed not at supporting people, but keeping them dependent on government... or about the disastrous economic polices that have left market shelves empty, infrastructure crumbling, and oil production plummeting. Doesn't matter, I guess. When poor Hugo is inevitably impaled on his own ineptness, we'll blame the CIA and fete the next representative of hollow psuedo-populism that comes along. I'd have expected more balanced coverage from OD, though...