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Pre-Hispanic basketry is scarce and at present, there are few analytical studies on these objects. This study presents an analytical investigation of a collection of ancient baskets from Museo Nacional de Etnografía y Folklore (MUSEF), La Paz, Bolivia employing portable X-ray Fluorescence and portable Raman Spectroscopy. The analyses were performed in situ with non-invasive and non-destructive methods. The chemical elements K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Sr were identified in all the samples. The principal component analysis tends to separate the basket pieces in two groups: one of them is related to stylistic shape of the Middle Horizon, Titicaca Lake basin, and the other was inconclusive. This was the first time that tinctures used in Andean pre-Hispanic basketry from the MUSEF collection were chemically evaluated and the results added historical and archaeological context to the objects.

In Bolivia, the coffee sector is of great importance for many farmers in the country, especially in the Yungas region, where it involves more than 17,000 families. Unfortunately, in the past three years, coffee export has experienced an important decrease attributed to lack of livelihood capitals such as lack of maintenance of older plantations, inadequate access to credits, limited governmental support and administrative problems of producer's cooperatives. Instead of focusing on increasing volumes and/or certifications to intend to improve producers' livelihoods, it has been highlighted that the focus could rather be put on improving quality. In the literature I found very little information about high quality coffee (HQC) value chains and their impact on coffee farming families' livelihoods. Therefore, this research investigates on the potential of the participation in HQC markets on farming families' livelihoods in the Yungas. The research has been conducted during on-site fieldwork in the Yungas, with observation (participant observation of four coffee producing families and informal conversation with members of families and other professionals in the coffee sector) and semi-structured interviews with one member from each family and two professionals from local high quality coffee roasting companies. Coffee smallholders in the Yungas find improvement in their financial and social capital mostly by selling HQC through direct trade. Moreover, producers will gain more financial benefits by processing themselves their HQC. However, producers who might want to participate in HQC markets, still lack access to this market as well as infrastructures and knowledge to process HQC. Possibility to reimburse credits, capacity to manage finances and work force accessibility are also limits to producers' livelihood alleviation. In addition, coca leaves production still play an important role in coffee producers livelihoods in the Yungas. The producers' natural capital is reduced due to their management of HQC and coca, in which they use inorganic agricultural inputs and by deforestation of primary forests. By involving in HQC coffee producers can improve their livelihood, but there is still a large effort to be done in order to facilitate access to this market and to reduce producers' vulnerability to health and natural shocks. ; M-AE

This paper introduces the preliminary results of a development project focused on waste recycling and recovery in La Paz (Bolivia). The aim is to share best practices and to present real-world challenges when implementing appropriate waste management systems in developing countries. Environmental pollution, social inequality, lack of resources, and economic discrepancies are challenges still present in the 21st century, and a global call-for-action is needed to support sustainable development. The project "LaPazRecicla", financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, provides perspectives that are potentially useful for policy-makers, waste management practitioners, and circular economy visionaries. The article aims to present the effective contribution of the practical actions to the local municipality, and to introduce the reason for why theoretical methods were employed to support the project. The outcomes provided two main indications: on one hand, cooperation among interdisciplinary actors and financial support can give the chance of improvement, suggesting international donors should continue in this direction; on the other, political instability, lack of local technical knowledge, and the absence of planning for a long-term period makes these actions unsuitable for tangible change. Global reflections are required in order to measure the potential benefits of small-scale projects, evaluating the time needed to move towards a sustainable future in low-income countries.

La construcción de la identidad masculina entre jóvenes y mujeres en una Unidad Educativa, estudio de caso : Unidad Educativa Modelo Simón Bolívar (UEMSB) de la ciiudad de La Paz / Pilar Arispe -- Q'hulus, borrachos, delincuentes y mujeriegos : dinámica de la construcción de la masculinidad : estudio de caso Tres "tilines" de la zona de Tembladerani de la ciudad de La Paz / Víctor Hugo Perales -- Masculiniades hegemónica vs. masculinidad araona, estudio de caso : diferencias y similtudes en el proceso de interacción a inserción al estadio boliviano / Ivanna Arizcurinaga -- El varón a través de dos siglos : un ensayo reflexivo inspirado en una obra de Elizabeth Badinter XY : la Identidad Masculina / Martha Anicia Rodríguez -- Para hablar de teoría de las masculinidades : la metáfora de la mesa como instrumento pedagógico / Jaime Telleria -- Inventario de tesis de grado sobre temas de masculinidades : Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Facultades de Ciencias Sociales, Humanidades, Medicina, Bioquímica y Farmacia / Marco Antonio Moreno -- Aproximaciones a la re-configuración de lo masculino desde los hombres adulto mayores : hombres rentisas jubilados de la ciudad de La Paz / Elizabeth Crespo -- Nuevas tecnologías reproductivas (NTR) como vías para construcción de las familias alternativas : la perspectiva del establecimiento de las paternidades latentes / Alvaro Bernabé -- Identidad masculina : quienes son las verdaderos hombres? : reflexiones a partir de las percepciones de las diversidades genéticas y sexuales / Claudia Vicenty -- Masculinidades y Patriarcado : similtudes y diferencias entorno al hombre / Juan Ignacio Apaza -- Imágenes y ejercicios masculinos : tendencias culturales que hacen sociedades contemporáneas / José Eduardo Rojas -- Problemas de la construcción de la masculinidad gay : reflexiones de la novela y la pelicula no se lo digas a nadie / Jesús Flores

La ciudad de El Alto, actualmente la segunda ciudad más grande de Bolivia luego de Santa Cruz, era un barrio periférico de la ciudad de La Paz hasta que se convierte en marzo de 1985 en capital de la cuarta sección de la provincia de Murillo del departamento de La Paz, y posteriormente en ciudad independiente en septiembre de 1988.Los informes gubernamentales y los periódicos actuales señalan que esta transformación de carácter político administrativo de El Alto se debe ?al empuje de sus vecinos organizados? o al Frente de Unidad y Renovación Independiente de El Alto. Sin embargo no se encuentra bibliografía que conecte la conformación de El Alto en la década de los ?80 con el contexto económico, político y social del país, y especialmente con la huelga general de 16 días consecutivos protagonizada por la COB y los trabajadores mineros en marzo de 1985. Esta huelga con epicentro en la ciudad de La Paz contó con el apoyo de la Federación de Amas de Casa, de los estudiantes universitarios, trabajadores fabriles y campesinos, por demandas económicas como el salario mínimo vital con escala móvil, y políticas, enfrentándose a las medidas del Gobierno de Siles Suazo en un momento hiperinflacionario. La huelga fue levantada por la COB pese a la disposición de los trabajadores y amas de casa de continuar con las medidas de fuerza, primando de este manera la decisión de los dirigentes sindicales en desmedro del desarrollo de una profunda democracia del conjunto de los trabajadores y sectores en lucha. Sin alternativa clara, la acción de los mineros quedó impotente y terminó derrotada, y la clase dominante encontró una salida a la crisis con las elecciones anticipadas de julio de 1985, las cuales permitieron el ascenso de Paz Estenssoro del MNR, quien dictó el Decreto N° 21060 en agosto de 1985, el cual condensa el programa de reformas ?neoliberales?. Los trabajadores respondieron con la huelga general en setiembre de ese mismo año, pero ésta fue aplastada bajo el Estado de Sitio. El ciclo de resistencia minera finalizó con la derrota de la Marcha por la Vida y la Dignidad en agosto de 1986 con el cerco militar en Calamarca. Esta reestructuración neoliberal implementada luego de derrotar al movimiento obrero tuvo una repercusión a nivel socio-territorial, ya que las migraciones masivas de los mineros relocalizados hacia El Alto principalmente (entre otros factores), conformaron una ciudad que fue reconocida como tal, por el Congreso Nacional, en 1988. Este análisis se basa en la sociología crítica para entender los procesos urbanos desde el punto de vista histórico y de la lucha de clases, para lo cual se lleva a cabo un abordaje hemerográfico a partir de uno de los diarios de tirada nacional de la época, llamado ?Presencia?, que se destaca por ser el único en publicar una sección sobre El Alto ; con el fin de demostrar la conexión entre la derrota de la huelga general del movimiento obrero y la emergencia de la ciudad de El Alto. ; The city of El Alto, currently the second largest city in Bolivia after Santa Cruz, was a suburb of the city of La Paz until March 6 of 1985. It then became the capital city of the fourth section of the province of Murillo, and later in independent city in September 1988. The government reports and newspapers in those years indicate that this transformation of El Alto was the result of the thrust of its organized neighbors, mostly based at the Frente de Unidad y Renovación Independiente de El Alto. Surprisingly the literature misses to connect the process of city formation with a 16 days general strike led by the COB and the mine workers in March 1985. The strike centered in the city of La Paz and had the support of the Federation of Housewives, college students, factory workers and farmers. The main economic demand was to have higher minimum wage with regular pay raises, challenging the neoliberal policies of President Siles Suazo to address hyperinflationary times. The strike was ended by the leadership of the COB despite the willingness of grassroots groups of workers and housewives pushing to continue with the strike action. This decision gave priority to the trade union leadership at the expense of developing democratic decision making processes among workers sectors. Without an alternative path when the strike ended, the action of the miners was powerless and ended up defeated, and the ruling class found a way out of the crisis through the early elections of July 1985. This election allowed the rise of Paz Estenssoro's MNR, who issued Decree N° 21 060 in August 1985. This decree condenses the program of neoliberal reforms in Bolivia. The workers responded with a general strike in September of that year, but it was crushed under a state of siege. The cycle of resistance ended with the defeat of the Marcha por la Vida y la Dignidad in August 1986 with the military siege in Calamarca. Thus, neoliberal restructuring implemented after defeating the labor movement had an impact on socio-territorial level, as the mass migration of miners mainly relocated to El Alto. This massive migration (among other factors) led to the formation of a city that was recognized as such by the Congreso Nacional in 1988. This paper analyzes the connections between the defeated general strike and the emergence of the city of El Alto from the perspective of critical historical sociology. This perspective understands that the dynamics of urban transformations are closely related to the outcomes of class struggle. Data comes from the analysis of articles published on the topic in the national newspaper Presencia during the month of March of 1985. This was the only national newspaper at the time publishing news about El Alto. The critical analysis of newspaper articles will allow us to understand the connection between the defeat of the general strike and the emergence of the city of El Alto. ; Fil: Diaz, Mariela Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; Argentina

Il lavoro stipendiato domestico è uno dei settori lavorativi più vulneranti in Bolivia. Manifestazione pratica del passato, questa occupazione predominantemente femminile dispone condizioni che occasionalmente ricordano il periodo coloniale: aberranti pratiche di sfruttamento, discriminazione e maltrattamenti sono parte costitutiva delle esperienze di molte di queste donne. Il dibattito pubblico attorno a questa questione sociale non è recente. La formazione di organizzazioni che si rivolgono alle lavoratrici domestiche ha segnato un punto di svolta fondamentale nel conseguimento dei diritti storicamente negati. Tuttavia, le disuguaglianze presenti nella normativa e la reticenza della società ad attuare le nuove tutele, derivano in uno scenario nel quale sussistono diverse forme di precarietà lavorativa. La seguente ricerca analizza questo stato della situazione. Più nello specifico, fornisce spiegazioni plausibili sui motivi della persistenza e della riproduzione di queste condizioni critiche. La tesi si inquadra come una ricerca sperimentale di tipo qualitativo. L'analisi svolta si basa sui dati ottenuti attraverso la realizzazione di interviste in profondità a lavoratrici domestiche e a datori di lavoro della città di La Paz. A partire dell'uso di metodi di analisi di contenuto, i dati sono stati sistematizzati in codici e categorie che rispecchiano i connotati delle partecipanti. Per studiare i processi che si trovano all'origine della persistenza di queste condizioni, si è fatto ricorso all'opera di Pierre Bourdieu e di Arlie Hochschild. Si assume, da un lato, che i concetti di campo, capitale habitus e violenza simbolica della teoria buordessiana permettano di mettere in luce le oscurate pratiche di dominazione che sono alla base della particolare situazione in cui vertono le lavoratici. D'altro canto, l'utilizzo della teoria sociologica delle emozioni di Hochschild aiuta a comprendere con maggiore chiarezza alcune delle relazioni che si instaurano fra i membri della famiglia dei datori lavoro e la lavoratrice. In concreto, i risultati evidenziano che nel corso della vita delle partecipanti operano una serie di meccanismi che mantengono e riproducono le condizioni di inuguaglianza sociale e della precarietà lavorativa. Per rendere più comprensibili questi processi si è deciso di ripartirli in due periodi analitici. La distinzione fra le due tappe si riferisce agli elementi comuni presenti nella progressione temporale dei relati. Il primo periodo corrisponde agli eventi in relazione ai quali si procedette all'elezione delle partecipanti per questa occupazione e alle prime esperienze di socializzazione con il lavoro. Si evidenzia, per esempio, come la possessione di uno scarso volume globale di capitale (economico, culturale, sociale e simbolico) da parte della lavoratrice e della propria famiglia determina la loro pronta uscita del nucleo familiare e la loro inserzione in un lavoro che riprodurrà questa stessa condizione. Nello stesso senso, l'analisi dell'insegnamento delle faccende domestica alle lavoratrici rivela come dietro a questa pratica apparentemente innocua si nasconde un atto di socializzazione delle differenze simboliche che naturalizzano la divisione sessuale, generazionale e razziale del lavoro produttivo, e con ciò, determinano le posizioni di dominante e dominato all'interno del campo domestico. Il secondo periodo copre eventi più recenti. Si studia la consolidazione della relazione fra la lavoratrice e il datore di lavoro e, in particolare, si descrive come la costruzione di forti legami emotivi possa comportare effetti positivi o negativi. Si presenta, anche, come la violenza psicologica e fisica, messa in atto attraverso pratiche di discriminazione e disprezzo, si manifestino come la modalità più crudeli della socializzazione simbolica della distinzione. Aldilà di ciò, la stesura include l'analisi di come l'azione dei sindacati e l'incremento delle capacità di agency delle lavoratici provochino mutamenti significativi nelle condizioni lavorative e sociali delle suddette. I diversi nodi messi a comparazione rendono questo un campo d'indagine complesso. La persistenza di inuguaglianze tra le lavoratici domestiche, nonostante i cambiamenti, avverte della necessità di creare un dibattito pubblico attorno alla formalizzazione delle condizioni lavorative dell'impiego domestico, sul ruolo dello Stato, sul perdurare di una mentalità coloniale e, in generale, sull'inesistente divisione equitativa delle attività di cura fra uomini e donne.

This paper investigates the location patterns of coworking spaces, the effects of coworking spaces on the local and urban context, and coworking spaces potential opportunities for the creation of local economic development, issues that have been neglected in a Bolivian context by the existing literature. The focus of this paper is on La Paz, Bolivia's political capital and the city in Bolivia which host the largest number of coworking spaces. The paper addresses three main questions: (1) Where are the main locations of coworking spaces in La Paz? (2) to what extent do coworking spaces generate transformative effects on the local respectively the urban scale? (e.g. physical transformations, changes in practices, community building) (3) how do coworking spaces create potential opportunities for local economic development? Desk research demonstrated that location patterns of coworking spaces are concentrated to two main commercial areas of the city, as well as to the main infrastructural and transportation axes. Field research highlighted local and urban effects, such as local community initiatives and micro-urban transformations in both spaces and practices. Lastly, field research assessed coworking spaces role in the socio-economic ecosystem. Three main typologies have been identified: the first type of coworking spaces act as "social entrepreneurship and start-up incubators" with a supportive role and closer ties to social and urban issues, the second type of coworking spaces act as "coffee and cowork incubators" providing cafés with shared workspaces, the third type of coworking spaces act as "real estate business incubators" and are mainly a commercial product responding the demand for flexible office spaces. This paper, therefore, helps to fill the gap in the literature about the location patterns of these new working spaces and their effects at different scales both in terms of spaces and practices, as well as local economic development.