FRIEDRICH EBERT STIFTUNG BOLIVIA APUNTES 1/2018 Democracy Support and the Case of Bolivia Philipp Kauppert June, 2018 Democracy Support is an area where different theoretical approaches, assumptions and myths meet with the reality of political and economic development. Bolivia is an interesting case study given that its transformation has received attention of international debates since the beginning of its democratization process in the early 1980s. The predominant focus in democracy support programs has been on strengthening actors and institutions, combined with an idealization of civil society as an independent sphere creating counterbalance to the state. It is doubtful whether this practice has really contributed to the deepening of democracy in Bolivia, or rather sharpened the polarization of politics observed in recent years, if unintentionally. Against this background, the author develops some ideas and recommendations for donors and actors engaging themselves in supporting democracy in Bolivia and beyond. He emphasizes the need for understanding and supporting transformation processes and proposes to use different analytical approaches and instruments. In order to overcome a transactional political culture, broader platforms for intellectual discussions across political boundaries are needed. In Bolivia, this has to include a substantial debate about the different forms and notions of democracy established in the constitution, and its practical implications and experiences since 2009.