Bolivian Argentines

ReligionRoman CatholicismRelated ethnic groups

Bolivian Argentines (Quechua: Buliwyanu Arhintinapi, Spanish: Boliviano-argentinos) are Argentine citizens of Bolivian descent or Bolivia-born people who immigrated to Argentina. In recent decades, Bolivia has become one of the main sources of immigration in Argentina, making Bolivians one of the largest Hispanic American immigrant groups in Argentina, along with Paraguayans, Peruvians and Venezuelans.

In Argentina, at the beginning of the 21st century, lies the world's largest Bolivian community outside Bolivia. The 2001 census recorded 233,464 legal Bolivians residing in Argentina, in equal parts for women and men. This is due in large part to economic abundance, the favorable opportunities which immigrants have in Argentina, and the healthcare and quality of life.

The Permanent Assembly for Human Rights of Bolivia considers that there are over 3 million Bolivian citizens living in different foreign countries.^[3] Of these, migration to Argentina accounts for 73% of the total, being the largest Bolivian diaspora group abroad.^[4] Today, it is estimated that more than 2  million Bolivians reside in Argentina, 5.4% of Argentina's total population.^[2]

Most Bolivians reside in Greater Buenos Aires, especially in La Matanza, Morón, Tres de Febrero and Escobar partidos. Within the City of Buenos Aires, they reside mainly in the neighbourhoods of Flores, Villa Soldati, Villa Lugano, Liniers and Nueva Pompeya.^[5] There are also important Bolivian communities in the provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Tucumán. Moreover, about 50,000 Bolivians reside in the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro in the Patagonia Region.^[6]

Bolivian immigration to Argentina has been constant since colonial times. Both countries were under Spanish rule as part of the Viceroyalty of Peru and then the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata until the Spanish American wars of independence.

During colonial times, much of Argentine territory was a link between Buenos Aires and Upper Peru (present-day Bolivia).

In the early 20th century, Bolivian immigration to Argentina was heading Argentine north to work in the harvest season of sugarcane and snuff. From the '50s it was constituted a significant part of the market related to the tomato, peppers and bananas, among others, in northern Argentina. During the 1960s and 1970s they were present at harvest and other crops in the west of the country and began to maintain a permanent presence in the city of Buenos Aires standing out in the horticultural work. Since then, Bolivians are found throughout the country.^[8]

The first migration wave of the modern era was held in 1940 after the ease of entry that gave the Argentine government engaged in the sugar crops of Salta and Jujuy, in the 1960s they moved to the province of Mendoza to collect the fruit and vegetables, or for collecting snuff leaves. After that, many moved to Buenos Aires to work as laborers, masons, and so many other jobs.^[5] Some also moved to southern lands such as Comodoro Rivadavia, and north of the province of Chubut because of the oil "boom".

During the Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de Malvinas) in 1982, some 25,000 Bolivians living in northern Argentina, mainly in the province of Salta, expressed their decision to act as volunteers in the defense of the islands in support of Argentina.^[9]

At the beginning of the 21st century, Argentina is home to the world's largest Bolivian community. The 2001 census recorded 233,464 legal Bolivians in Argentina in equal parts for women and men.

Bolivian immigrants in Argentina found a place to work, progress, and help their families. Thousands of Bolivians have joined the Argentine everyday life, contributing in areas as diverse as construction, education, health, sports and music areas. In addition, elements of Bolivian cuisine have become more popular in some areas where the Bolivian community is remarkable.

• Cornelio Saavedra, military officer and statesman, president of the Primera Junta.
• Juana Azurduy de Padilla, Latin American guerilla military leader.
• José Severo Malabia, statesman, lawyer and a representative to the Congress of Tucumán.
• Tarateño Rojas,^[10] singer, musician and composer.
• María Eugenia Estenssoro, politician, journalist and activist for women's rights.

For many years, Bolivians have chosen Argentina as the place to look for better opportunities, to develop their life projects, raise their children, and work. According to the 2022 census in Argentina, the number of Bolivians in the country was 338,299 at that time; hence, the fusion of these two nations implies the sharing of different aspects of the lives of two considerably distinct cultural groups. We are going to analyze three main sources that deal with the topics of social discrimination, stereotypes and prejudice practices against Bolivian immigrants in Argentina. We will attempt to develop on how discrimination against Bolivian immigrants takes place, not only in their working fields but also in their social life.
   
    In the social field, Argentinians tend to discriminate against Bolivian individuals, often marginalizing and segregating them. At schools, for instance, Bolivians struggle to be respected and to be part of the group, homogeneously. This struggle becomes particularly evident for most young Bolivian immigrants, who are immersed in the process of constructing their identity. These young immigrants, as they are constantly exposed to other people’s negative perception of their original community, are prone to denying their own roots by trying to not be perceived as “Bolivians”(Cassanello 2006, p. 113) so as to be accepted by their peers.

   In the field of work, Bolivian immigrants face several cases of discrimination. For instance, they are sometimes called “thieves” since some Argentinians state that the jobs are intended for Argentinians and Bolivians come to the country to “steal” it. Roberto Benencia (2004) identifies three scales or levels of prejudice: verbal, discrimination and violent actions caused by negative prejudice. These levels can be seen as integral parts of a continuum that includes thoughts and practices that range from thoughts and ideas to concrete acts of violence.

• Argentina–Bolivia relations
• Immigration to Argentina
• Racism in Argentina
• Paraguayan Argentine
• Peruvian Argentines

• Regina G. Schlüter, Turismo y Patrimonio en el siglo XXI, CIET, Buenos Aires, 2002.
• José Moreno Páez, "La Argentina es aplaudida en el mundo entero por sus políticas migratorias". UNASUR, Buenos Aires, 2008.
• Eduardo Muñoz Pernía, "Argentina mira hacia el futuro de la integración latinoamericana, marcando el ejemplo, con el plan Patria Grande". Torremolinos, Madrid, 2006.