Resumo

MANSILLA, H.C.F. Tradiciones culturales y derechos humanos: El caso boliviano entre corrientes individualistas y tendencias colectivistas. CDC [online]. 2003, vol.20, n.52, pp.79-107. ISSN 1012-2508.

The human rights situation cannot be cut off from the sociocultural context. The territory now comprising Bolivia has experienced three main civilizations, each one with a different political culture: the prehispanic Indian civilization, the Spanish colonial period and the current western modernity. The first two influences fostered an authoritarian and collectivistic culture and were not favorable to the contemporary conception of human rights. The re-establishment of democracy since 1985 promotes (despite many impediments) a lasting generalization of human rights. This can be seen in the creation of new laws and institutions and in the daily work of numerous organizations. In the future human rights may be considered as a fundamental component of Bolivian social identity.

Palavras-chave : Cultural traditions; Human rights; Socioculture; Bolivia; Social identity.