Coexistence of two or more sealed or preserved national groups within a polity
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 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 2022 Bolivia and
Ecuador are constitutionally defined as plurinational states.[5]
Plurinationalism in Chile
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.[6] 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][7] Prior to the dismissal of the proposed constitution the issue of pluranationalism was noted by polls and El País as particularly divisive in Chile.[8] The creation of a "plurinational region" in southern Chile has been proposed by some scholars and activists as a solution to the
Mapuche conflict.[9]
Plurinationalism has been criticized by
José Rodríguez Elizondo as being used to advance Bolivian claims against
Chile for sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean.[10]
^Soto Martínez, Víctor (2019-11-29). Análisis comparativo entre la Constitución vigente y el proyecto de reforma constitucional de Michelle Bachelet (Report) (in Spanish). Vol. 155–19.
Library of Congress of Chile.
^Marimán, José; Valenzuela, Esteban (2015). "El nuevo ciclo de movilización mapuche en Chile: la emergencia de la CAM y el proyecto autonomista para una región plurinacional" [The new cycle of mapuche mobilization in Chile: the emergence of the CAM and the project for a plurinational autonomy region]. Araucaria. Revista Iberoamericana de Filosofía, Política y Humanidades (in Spanish) (34): 279–301.
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