Plurinationalism 📖 Wikipedia

Plurinationality, plurinational, or plurinationalism is defined as the coexistence of two or more sealed or preserved national groups within a polity^[1] (an organized community or body of peoples^[2]) in Latin America. In plurinationalism, the idea of nationality is plural, meaning there are many nationals within an organized community or body of peoples. Derived from this concept, a plurinational state is the existence of multiple political communities and constitutional asymmetry. The usage of plurinationality assists in avoiding the division of societies within a state or country. Furthermore, a plurinational democracy recognizes the multiple demoi (common people or populace)^[3] within a polity.^[1] Reportedly the term has its origin in the Indigenous political movement in Bolivia where it was first heard of in the early 1980s.^[4] As of 2025, Bolivia and Ecuador are constitutionally defined as plurinational states.^[5] Proposals for plurinationalism have also been heard in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.

Plurinational states are similar to multinational states, but are particularly often advocated for by indigenous peoples.^[6]

In 2009, Bolivia adopted a constitution that renamed the country to the "Plurinational State of Bolivia",^[7] as spearheaded by Evo Morales.^[8] Formerly, it was called the "Republic of Bolivia".^[7] Later, in 2010, Morales proclaimed January 22nd to be "Plurinational State Day", an annual holiday; it coincides with the day Morales took power in 2006.^[8]

In September 2008, Rafael Correa introduced a new constitution that described Ecuador as a "Plurinational and Intercultural State".^[9] The new constitution also recognized 11 indigenous groups within the country.^[9] The concept of Ecuador becoming a plurinational state was previously proposed in 1988.^[10]

Since 1986, Argentina has been home to an annual meeting for activists to discuss gender-based inequality.^[11] In 2022, the name was changed from the "National Women's Meeting" to the "Plurinational Meeting" (though two events, one under each name, were held that year).^[11] In 2023, only the "Plurinational Meeting" was held, which was in the city of Bariloche.^[11]

In Chile constitutional plurinationalism has been a topic of debate. Plurinationalism was not a concept in the constitutional reforms proposed by Michelle Bachelet's second government (2014–2018), yet the proposed reforms included recognition of Chile's indigenous peoples.^[12] The 2022 proposed Political Constitution of the Republic of Chile defined Chile as "plurinational", however this proposal was rejected by a large margin in September 2022.^[4][13] Prior to the dismissal of the proposed constitution the issue of pluranationalism was noted by polls and El País as particularly divisive in Chile.^[14] The creation of a "plurinational region" in southern Chile has been proposed by some scholars and activists as a solution to the Mapuche conflict.^[15]

Plurinationalism has been criticized by José Rodríguez Elizondo as being used to advance Bolivian claims against Chile for sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean.^[16]

In August 2014, lawmakers in Costa Rica approved a first round vote for a bill that would describe the country as "multiethnic and plurinational" within the constitution of Costa Rica.^[17]

In Guatemala, plurinationalism has been championed by Comité de Desarrollo Campesino^[4] and the Maya Waqib’ Kej National Convergence.^[18] In the Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the government of Guatemala committed to reforms to recognize the Maya peoples, the Garifuna, and the Xinca people^[18] and also reframe the country in the constitution of Guatemala as being "of national unity, multi-ethnic, multicultural and multilingual".^[19] No such reforms have ever happened to date.^[18]

• Biculturalism
• Composite nationalism
• Consociationalism
• Federation
• Multiculturalism
• Multilateralism
• Multinational state
• National personal autonomy
• Pan-nationalism
• Pillarisation
• Plurinational State of Bolivia
• Transnationalism
• Unitary state

• Pallares, Amalia. The Politics of Disruption, From Pluriculturalism to Plurinationalism, From peasant struggles to Indian resistance: the Ecuadorian Andes in the late twentieth century, University of Oklahoma Press, 2002, 272 pages
• MacDonald, Jr., Theodore. Ecuador's Indian Movement: Pawn in a Short Game or Agent in State Reconfiguration?
• Masnou i Boixeda, Ramón. 3. Recognition and Respect in Plurinationalism, Notes on Nationalism, Gracewing Publishing, 2002, 146 pages