Movement for Socialism
Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples Movimiento al Socialismo–Instrumento Político por la Soberanía de los Pueblos |
|
---|---|
President | Evo Morales |
Founded | 1995 (founding); 1998 (split from ASP) |
Split from | Assembly for the Sovereignty of the Peoples |
Headquarters | Benedicto Vincenti Nº 960, Sopocachi, La Paz, Bolivia |
Ideology |
Socialism of the 21st century Left-wing nationalism Indigenismo |
Political position | Left-wing |
International affiliation |
Progressive Alliance, Foro de São Paulo |
Colors | Cobalt blue, Black and White |
Chamber of Deputies |
88 / 130
|
Senate |
25 / 36
|
Website | |
www.mas-ipsp.bo | |
The Movement for Socialism–Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples (Spanish: Movimiento al Socialismo–Instrumento Político por la Soberanía de los Pueblos, abbreviated MAS-IPSP, or simply MAS), alternately referred to as "Movement Toward Socialism" or "Movement to Socialism" (Spanish: Movimiento al Socialismo listen ), is a Bolivian left-wing socialist political movement led by Evo Morales, founded in 1998. Its followers are known as masistas.
MAS-IPSP has governed the country since 2006, following the first ever majority victory by a single party in the December 2005 elections. MAS-IPSP evolved out of the movement to defend the interests of coca growers. Evo Morales has articulated the goals of his party and popular organizations as the need to achieve plurinational unity, and to develop a new hydrocarbon law which guarantees 50% of revenue to Bolivia, although political leaders of MAS-IPSP recently interviewed showed interest in complete nationalization of the fossil fuel industries.
The roots of MAS-IPSP can be traced to the closures of the Bolivian Mining Corporation and shut-down of various mines during the 1980s. Thousands of former miners became coca farmers as their means of survival, but also encountered new hardships in their new profession. The growth of the coca farmer community resulted in a sharp numerical growth of organizations such as Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia (CSUTCB) and Confederación Sindical de Colonizadores de Bolivia. The movement built alliances with the Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Eastern Bolivia (CIDOB), and mobilized joint protests in a 1992 campaign titled "500 years of resistance of the indigenous peoples", culminating in a march to La Paz where a manifestation was held on October 12, 1992 (Columbus Day). The 1992 campaign marked the emergence of a 'peasant-Indigenous' movement.