“Against evil, for the good of all”. An approach to police reform in Bolivia (1937-1952)

Abstract

Between 1937 and 1952, the Bolivian state reformed its police force through a series of measures that achieved partial but decisive transformation. In an initial exploration of a process that has so far received little attention in historical studies, this article argues that these reforms aligned with the political interests of “military socialism”, and were prioritized for further development under different governments in the context of new forms of criminality, crisis, rebellions, and social discontent. The reforms aimed at professionalization, under a model initially imported from Italy, structured around the National Police School and the Revista de la Policía Boliviana, seeking to forge a new corporate identity and adopt a “scientific policing” approach. Ultimately, the reforms facilitated the consolidation of forensic investigation as a major new field of expert knowledge to assist the judiciary.