UNDERSTANDING INTERNAL COLONIALISM THROUGH URBANIZATION THE CASE OF LA PAZ-EL ALTO

This thesis explores the enduring presence and continuous renovation of colonial structures from an spatial lens in the context of La Paz-El Alto, Bolivia. By integrating Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui's decolonial thought with Latin American urban historiography and a chronological socio-spatial analysis of La Paz-El Alto, this study demonstrates how historical colonial dynamics persistently shape urbanization processes. The research reveals that the urbanization of La Paz-El Alto is a material manifestation of internal colonialism, where mechanisms of cultural disciplining and exclusion, initially established during the formal colonial period, have been continuously repurposed throughout history. Reforms aimed at "civilizing" and "modernizing" the country triggered massive rural-urban migration and unprecedented urban growth. However, the intrinsic contradiction of the “modernizing” projects led to marginalization and “informalization” of the indigenous-mestizo urban population, clearly evident in the growth and socio-economic characteristics of El Alto. Furthermore, the thesis illustrates how a social hierarchy structured by ethnicity, rooted in the polarization between Western and indigenous cultures, is reflected in the socio-spatial segregation of La Paz-El Alto. La Paz is associated with western culture and power, while El Alto has emerged as a predominantly Aymara city. This contrast has been reinforced by exclusionary urban policies and administrative separation of the two cities. Moreover, while wealthier areas are predominantly inhabited by non-Aymara population and showcase imported architectural styles, lower class areas are mostly inhabited by Aymara population, and are characterized by buildings that reflect informal economies and by neo-andean buildings that embody cultural resistance. Ultimately, this thesis argues that the socio-spatial landscape of La Paz-El Alto is a material expression of persistent colonial structures, simultaneously embodying centuries of systemic oppression and cultural resistance. It contributes to decolonial theory by offering a spatial lens through which to understand the continuous reproduction of colonial logics in contemporary urban inequalities.