The Coercive Side of Collective Capabilities: Evidence from the Bolivian Altiplano

Abstract

Theorists have critiqued the individualism at the heart of Sen’s capabilities approach, and have advocated the concept of “collective capabilities” to better understand the role of social institutions in influencing human flourishing and freedom. However, the extent to which collective capabilities are complementary to, or in tension with individual ones has been under-researched. This paper explores the relationship between collective and individual capabilities by analysing the social institutions of indigenous peasants living in the Bolivian Altiplano, a relatively collectivist society, considering the roles of three key social institutions: village-level political organizations, social activities, and Evangelical churches. It argues that the strength of institutions to contribute to both individual and collective well-being often depends on their ability to use coercive instruments to override individual freedoms. Therefore, while the data support the claim that individualist approaches to well-being and freedom are inadequate, it also calls for more dynamic understandings of the ways in which social institutions enable and constrain people’s capabilities.

Keywords:

• Capabilities approach
• Collective capabilities
• Indigenous people
• Collective institutions
• Andes
• Religion

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Stephen Devereux (IDS) and Chris Béné (CGIAR) for their support in writing this article and two anonymous reviewers for providing constructive comments.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

About the Authors

Rachel Godfrey-Wood (Institute of Development Studies) is a Ph.D. student in development studies at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex. Her research focuses on patterns of rural change, local understandings of well-being, the development of regional markets and political organizations in the Bolivian Altiplano. She also works as a consultant for the International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED), for which she specializes in issues relating to climate change and social protection policies.

Graciela Mamani-Vargas studied Psychopedagogy at the Universidad Pública de El Alto (UPEA), and she currently works for the Fundacion “Jacha Uru” in the Department of La Paz, working alongside families of children in a situation of disability.

Additional information

Funding

This research was completed with the assistance of a fieldwork grant from the Society of Latin American Studies, for which the authors are grateful.