The Social Democratic Party ( Spanish: ''Partido Social Demócrata'', PSD) was a

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

, small and elitist, but influential

Bolivia Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. The country features diverse geography, including vast Amazonian plains, tropical lowlands, mountains, the Gran Chaco Province, w ...

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...

formed by

middle-class The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. Commo ...

intellectuals. The Social Democratic Party was founded in 1944 by younger, conservative Bolivians committed to modernization and the technological and technocratic strategies they believed necessary to achieve it. Led by Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas (

Hernán Siles Zuazo Hernán Siles Zuazo (21 March 1914 – 6 August 1996) was a Bolivian politician who served as the 46th president of Bolivia twice nonconsecutively from 1956 to 1960 and from 1982 to 1985. He also briefly served as interim president in April 1952 ...

's half-brother), Roberto Arce, Manfredo Kempf Mercado, Gastón Arduz Eguia, Alberto Crespo Gutiérrez, Tomás Guillermo Elio, and Mario Estenssoro, the party embraced developmentalist, nominally Christian-Democratic principles. For the 1947 general elections, the Party allied with the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

and Revolutionary Left Party and backed Liberal Luis Femando Guachalla as the coalition's presidential candidate. For the 1951 general elections, the PSD allied with the Republican Socialist Unity Party and backed PURS' presidential candidate . During the

Revolutionary Nationalist Movement The Revolutionary Nationalist Movement ( , MNR) is a centre-right, conservative political party in Bolivia. It was the leading force behind the Bolivian National Revolution from 1952 to 1964. It influenced much of the country's history since 19 ...

regime (1952–1964), the Social Democratic Party was a minor force, allied electorally with the

Bolivian Socialist Falange The Bolivian Socialist Falange () is a Bolivian political party established in 1937. It is a far-rightJohn, S (2006) ''Permanent Revolution on the Altiplano: Bolivian Trotskyism, 1928-2005'', p. 445 party drawing inspiration from fascism. It was t ...

. It was generally regarded as an ideological relic of the prerevolutionary period, surviving only because its leaders were relatively young. After

Víctor Paz Estenssoro Ángel Víctor Paz Estenssoro (2 October 1907 – 7 June 2001) was a Bolivian politician who served as the 45th president of Bolivia for three nonconsecutive and four total terms from 1952 to 1956, 1960 to 1964 and 1985 to 1989. He ran for pr ...

's overthrow in 1964, the Social Democratic Party obtained a new lease on life and cooperated with the military regime of General René Barrientos Ortuño. Their influence no doubt was stimulated by the growing prominence of "technocrats" in the military dictatorships of

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

and

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

. For the 1966 general elections PSD allied with the Revolutionary Left Party, Authentic Revolutionary Party and Popular Christian Movement and backed Barrientos as the coalition's presidential candidate. The PSD's leader, Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas was chosen as vice-presidential candidate. The PSD withdrew support Barrientos in 1968, but returned to a pro-government stance, when René Barrientos Ortuño died in a helicopter crash on 27 April 1969 and Siles Salinas became president, serving with conspicuous dedication and honesty for five months until overthrown by General

Alfredo Ovando Candía Alfredo Ovando Candia (6 April 1918 – 24 January 1982) was a Bolivian military officer and political leader who served as the 48th president of Bolivia from 1965 to 1966 and 1969 to 1970. During his first term, he shared power with René Bar ...

.Ronald H. McDonald, J. Mark Ruhl. Party politics and elections in Latin America. Westview Press, 1989. P. 228. In succeeding years, the Social Democratic Party became inactive after that, although Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas continued to pursue his presidential ambitions.

Notes

{{reflist Conservative parties in Bolivia Defunct political parties in Bolivia Political parties established in 1944