Bolivia

Bolivian History Pre-Colombian Era –Tiwanakan Culture – 2BC-1200AD –Moxos – approx same, disappeared 1300AD –Inca incorporation Colonial Era –Spanish conquest 1525 –Silver mines source of Spanish wealth (Potosi) –Independence declared 1809 –Republic named for Bolivar established in 1825

Bolivian History Republican Era – War of the Pacific Loses coastal access, nitrate fields to Chile Late 1800s prosperity, stability –global price of silver –1900s tin replaces silver Repressed indigenous labor Denied education, economic opportunity, political participation Laissez faire capitalist economic policies – Chaco War Defeated by Paraguay Ruling classes discredited New political demands emerge

Bolivian History Revolution in 1952, start of democracy Nationalist Revolutionary Movement Party (MNR) Wins elections in 1951 but denied access to office, foments revolution President Victor Paz Estenssoro –Introduces universal adult suffrage –Land reform –Rural education –Nationalization of the tin mines

Return to Democracy period of instability, elections and coups Presidential elections: –Nationalist Democratic Action Party 33% pop. Vote –MNR wins 30% pop. Vote –Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR) wins 10% In Congressional run off an MNR and MIR alliance brings MNR party leader and former president Estenssoro to the executive branch once again. –Constitutional rule: Congress votes on President without a majority vote outcome from the popular election.

Estenssoro and other Presidents Estenssoro admin –economic problems stabilized 1989 elections Paz Zamora (MIR and Patriotic Accord alliance) wins –Neoliberal economic reforms continued, crackdown on domestic terrorism 1993 elections MNR candidate Sanchez de Lozada –Economic reform pursued –“Capitalization” – form of privatization where investors acquired 50% ownership and management of state firms (oil, telecommunications, airlines, railroads, electric) with money directed to the pension system instead of the Treasury –Very unpopular – protests from 94-96

Other Presidents 1997 Gen. Hugo Banzer, ADN party (Nationalist Democratic Action) –neoliberal econ reforms continue –No job creation –Perception of corruption –Coca eradication systematic –Increasing social protests –2001 diagnosed with cancer, resigns, dies one year later

2002-present 2002 elections/MNR platform: –Sanchez de Lozada (MNR) 22.5% Job creation, anti-corruption, social inclusion –Evo Morales (MAS) 20.9% (movement toward socialism) Critical moment: –9/03 tourists trapped in town of Sorata –Bolivian security rescue results in deaths of peasants, security forces –Bolivian protesters pressure government for change on variety of policy areas Export of NG through Chile (wop) La Paz blockaded, conditions worsened –Lozada resigns, Oct 2003 –VP Carlos Mesa Gisbert assumes office Pledges to reform hydrocarbons law 7/18/04 national referendum on hydrocarbons overwhelmingly passed 5/17/05 Congress passes confiscatory hydrocarbons law Demonstrations continued –Mesa resigns May 2005

Evo Morales 12/18/05 Evo Morales wins 54% of popular vote. Platform: –Leader of coca growers – end illegalization –Nationalize hydrocarbons –Alleviate poverty/end discrimination –Constituent assembly to reform constitution Constitutional reform –Assembly in place and deliberating –Issue of regional autonomy (federalization) under consideration.

Multiculturalism and Constitutional Reform Indigenous peoples have argued that states should be acknowledged as “multi-cultural”. Constitutional reforms should bring the majority into a “Multinational and pluricultural state” –A state with the right to participate, representative of the Original Nations, mestizo, and black peoples, mutual respect among nations and classes, with equality of conditions, a state directed by the oppressed and exploited”(Van Cott 136).

Parallel debate on efficiency How to improve government responsiveness? –Municipal independence –A form of federalization –Municipal decentralization: Already a bureaucratic entity Closest to the people Only viable option for a unitary state like Bolivia Option to oppose central government

Constitutional reform Minority presidents selected by Congress an overall drain on executive branch legitimacy –Minority support –Congressional intervention –Who is your power base when changes are necessary?