René Zavaleta Mercado (3 June 1937 – 23 December 1984) was a Bolivian sociologist, politician and philosopher.
Zavaleta was an extremely influential Bolivian thinker of the second half of the twentieth century.
His thought is usually divided into three periods: the first nationalist, followed by an orthodox Marxist phase, and finally his more influential unorthodox Marxism from a uniquely Bolivian perspective.
Additionally considered important are Zavaleta's meaning of the terms "mases" ("masses") and "multitude".
Today his work is considered essential for understanding the reality of Bolivian cultural, political, and social life.