BoliviaBolivia

EconomyEconomy

Although Bolivia sits on South America's second-largest natural gas reserves as well as Although Bolivia sits on South America's second-largest natural gas reserves as well as considerable oil, the country has remained one of the poorest on the continent. considerable oil, the country has remained one of the poorest on the continent.

Following a disastrous economic crisis during the early 1980s, reforms spurred private Following a disastrous economic crisis during the early 1980s, reforms spurred private investment, stimulated economic growth, and cut poverty rates in the 1990s investment, stimulated economic growth, and cut poverty rates in the 1990s

It has shown positive growth rates as of lateIt has shown positive growth rates as of late

Guevara revolutionGuevara revolution

In 1965, a guerrilla movement mounted from Cuba and headed by Maj. Ernesto In 1965, a guerrilla movement mounted from Cuba and headed by Maj. Ernesto (Ché) Guevara began a revolutionary war. (Ché) Guevara began a revolutionary war.

With the aid of U.S. military advisers, the Bolivian army smashed the guerrilla With the aid of U.S. military advisers, the Bolivian army smashed the guerrilla movement, capturing and killing Guevara on Oct. 8, 1967. movement, capturing and killing Guevara on Oct. 8, 1967.

Military/civilian ruleMilitary/civilian rule

A string of military coups followed before the military returned the government to A string of military coups followed before the military returned the government to civilian rule in 1982, when Hernán Siles Zuazo became president. civilian rule in 1982, when Hernán Siles Zuazo became president.

At that point, Bolivia was regularly shut down by work stoppages and had the At that point, Bolivia was regularly shut down by work stoppages and had the lowest per capita income in South America. lowest per capita income in South America.

1990s Bolivia stays 1990s Bolivia stays capitalisticcapitalistic

In June 1993, free-market advocate Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada was elected In June 1993, free-market advocate Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada was elected president. president.

He was succeeded by former general Hugo Bánzer, an ex-dictator turned democrat He was succeeded by former general Hugo Bánzer, an ex-dictator turned democrat who became president in Aug. 1997. who became president in Aug. 1997.

Coca eradicationCoca eradication

Bánzer made significant progress in wiping out illicit coca production and drug trafficking, Bánzer made significant progress in wiping out illicit coca production and drug trafficking, which pleased the United States. He was pro-business and anti-socialistwhich pleased the United States. He was pro-business and anti-socialist

However, the eradication of coca, a major crop in Bolivia, plunged many Bolivian farmers into However, the eradication of coca, a major crop in Bolivia, plunged many Bolivian farmers into abject poverty. abject poverty.

An old faceAn old face

In Aug. 2002, Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada again became president, pledging to In Aug. 2002, Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada again became president, pledging to continue economic reforms and to create jobs. continue economic reforms and to create jobs.

In Oct. 2003, Sánchez resigned after months of rioting and strikes over a gas-In Oct. 2003, Sánchez resigned after months of rioting and strikes over a gas-exporting project that protesters believed would benefit foreign companies more exporting project that protesters believed would benefit foreign companies more than Bolivians. than Bolivians.

Mesa and government Mesa and government controlcontrol

Vice president, Carlos Mesa, replaced him. Vice president, Carlos Mesa, replaced him. Mesa remained popular during his first two years as president. Mesa remained popular during his first two years as president. In a July 2004 referendum on the future of the country's significant natural gas In a July 2004 referendum on the future of the country's significant natural gas

reserves Bolivians overwhelmingly supported Mesa's plan to exert more control reserves Bolivians overwhelmingly supported Mesa's plan to exert more control over foreign gas companies. over foreign gas companies.

Mesa managed to satisfy the strong anti-privatization sentiment among Bolivians Mesa managed to satisfy the strong anti-privatization sentiment among Bolivians without shutting the door on some limited form of privatization in the future. without shutting the door on some limited form of privatization in the future.

Unrest againUnrest again

But rising fuel prices in 2005 led to massive protests by impoverished farmers and But rising fuel prices in 2005 led to massive protests by impoverished farmers and miners, and on June 6 Mesa resigned. miners, and on June 6 Mesa resigned.

Supreme court justice Eduardo Rodriguez took over as interim president.Supreme court justice Eduardo Rodriguez took over as interim president.

Evo comes to powerEvo comes to power

Bolivian activist Evo Morales of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) won 54% of the vote Bolivian activist Evo Morales of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) won 54% of the vote in the 2005 presidential elections, becoming the country's first indigenous president. in the 2005 presidential elections, becoming the country's first indigenous president.

He carried out two of his three major initiatives in 2006: nationalizing Bolivia's energy industry, He carried out two of his three major initiatives in 2006: nationalizing Bolivia's energy industry, which was expected to double the country's annual revenues; and forming in August a which was expected to double the country's annual revenues; and forming in August a constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution, which will ensure greater rights for indigenous constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution, which will ensure greater rights for indigenous Bolivians.Bolivians.

His third major initiative is to legalize the growing of coca, which many Bolivians consider an His third major initiative is to legalize the growing of coca, which many Bolivians consider an integral part of their culture. integral part of their culture.

Morales the nightmareMorales the nightmare

In July 2007, Morales announced plans to nationalize the country's railways, which for the past In July 2007, Morales announced plans to nationalize the country's railways, which for the past 10 years have been run by investors from Chile and the United States. 10 years have been run by investors from Chile and the United States.

His controversial coca policy, his plans to limit foreign investment, and his close ties with the His controversial coca policy, his plans to limit foreign investment, and his close ties with the leftist governments of Venezuela and Cuba have predictably antagonized the United States. leftist governments of Venezuela and Cuba have predictably antagonized the United States. Morales has referred to himself as the “United States' biggest nightmare.” Morales has referred to himself as the “United States' biggest nightmare.”

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-september-25-2007/president-evo-moraleshttp://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-september-25-2007/president-evo-morales

Evo Morales and ReformEvo Morales and Reform

On Dec. 9, 2007, Morales presented a new constitution to congress. On Dec. 9, 2007, Morales presented a new constitution to congress. The new constitution, which will give indigenous people more rights, recognize 37 official The new constitution, which will give indigenous people more rights, recognize 37 official

languages, and grant indigenous communities autonomy, was approved by 164 of the 255 languages, and grant indigenous communities autonomy, was approved by 164 of the 255 constituent assembly members. constituent assembly members.

The opposition boycotted the meeting, however, claiming that the document is illegal because The opposition boycotted the meeting, however, claiming that the document is illegal because it was not approved by the required two-thirds majority.it was not approved by the required two-thirds majority.

Regardless of the opposition, the government planned to submit the document to a Regardless of the opposition, the government planned to submit the document to a referendum in 2008.referendum in 2008.

Santa CruzSanta Cruz

On May 4, 2008, at least one person died and many were injured when clashes broke out in a On May 4, 2008, at least one person died and many were injured when clashes broke out in a Santa Cruz province because a referendum was held in opposition to President Morales’ Santa Cruz province because a referendum was held in opposition to President Morales’ government. This region has most of the gas reserves and is the most wealthygovernment. This region has most of the gas reserves and is the most wealthy

The government strongly disapproved of the proposed referendum, which would give more The government strongly disapproved of the proposed referendum, which would give more autonomy to the Santa Cruz province, including the ability to elect its own legislature, raise autonomy to the Santa Cruz province, including the ability to elect its own legislature, raise taxes for public works, and create its own police force. taxes for public works, and create its own police force.

Resistance and referendumResistance and referendum

On Aug. 10, 2008, President Morales won a recall referendum with 63.5 percent of voters On Aug. 10, 2008, President Morales won a recall referendum with 63.5 percent of voters supporting his administration. supporting his administration.

The recall vote was an unsuccessful effort to remove Morales from office by Podemos, an The recall vote was an unsuccessful effort to remove Morales from office by Podemos, an opposition partyopposition party

Morales has garnered criticism from some lowland provinces for his policies, including the Morales has garnered criticism from some lowland provinces for his policies, including the acceptance of financing from Venezuela. acceptance of financing from Venezuela.

Anti-U.S.Anti-U.S.

On Sept. 10, 2008, President Morales ordered the U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, On Sept. 10, 2008, President Morales ordered the U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, Philip Goldberg, to leave the country, accusing Goldberg of "conspiring against Philip Goldberg, to leave the country, accusing Goldberg of "conspiring against democracy" and encouraging rebel groups who were protesting in eastern Bolivia. democracy" and encouraging rebel groups who were protesting in eastern Bolivia.

DEA removedDEA removed

In November, 2008, relations between Bolivia and the United States deteriorated In November, 2008, relations between Bolivia and the United States deteriorated further—the U.S. suspended duty-free access for Bolivian exports and President further—the U.S. suspended duty-free access for Bolivian exports and President Morales suspended U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration operations, accusing its Morales suspended U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration operations, accusing its agents of espionage. agents of espionage.

Expansion of powerExpansion of power

A new constitution that extended the rights of the indigenous majority, A new constitution that extended the rights of the indigenous majority, granted increased autonomy to the states, and allowed the president to granted increased autonomy to the states, and allowed the president to run for a second five-year term was passed in a national referendum in run for a second five-year term was passed in a national referendum in January 2009 despite widespread protests. January 2009 despite widespread protests.

Morales a winnerMorales a winner

In December 2009, Morales was elected to a second term, taking more In December 2009, Morales was elected to a second term, taking more than 60% of the vote, well ahead of his conservative opponent. than 60% of the vote, well ahead of his conservative opponent.

A Third Term?????A Third Term?????

In the spring of 2013, Bolivia's Constitutional Court ruled that President Evo Morales could run for a third term in the December 2014 elections. Even though the country's constitution only allows two consecutive terms, the court ruled that Morales's first term would not be counted because it predated Bolivia's current constitution, which was amended in 2009.

The 2009 constitution limited both the president and vice-president to two consecutive terms. Opposition and critics said the ruling proved that the government controlled the court.

USAID REMOVEDUSAID REMOVED

In May 2013, President Morales expelled the U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID). Morales had threated to expel the agency for some time, accusing it in the past of funding groups that opposed his policies such as a planned highway through a rainforest preserve.

A state news agency in Bolivia reported that the USAID was "accused of alleged political interference in peasant unions and other social organizations."

ProtestsProtests

On May 16, 2013, hundreds of teachers, miners and other workers marched into Bolivia's capital. It was the 11th day of demonstrations for higher pensions. Protestors asked for their pensions, which ranged from $21 to $28 a month, to be doubled. Protestors attempted to take over the plaza where the government was located and miners set off dynamite. Police fought off protestors with tear gas.

SnowdenSnowden

Bolivia found itself involved in the international controversy surrounding the future of Edward Snowden, the former CIA employee who leaked top-secret information about U.S. domestic surveillance to several news organizations in June 2013. President Morales offered asylum to Snowden.

Bolivia was one of about 20 countries from which Snowden sought asylum. On July 3, the plane carrying Morales from Russia back to Bolivia was diverted because several European nations, believing that Snowden was on board the plane, refused Morales access to their airspace.

The move created a diplomatic furor, and Morales called the incident an "affront to all [Latin] America," and the vice president, Alvaro Garcia, said Morales was "being kidnapped by imperialism."

France apologized the day after the incident. Morales's regional allies, including presidents from Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela, met in a show of solidarity and demanded an explanation about the incident.

Morales in backMorales in back

President Evo Morales won a third consecutive term on Oct. 12, 2014, taking 61% of the vote. His closest opponent in the election received 24.5%. During his victory speech, Morales said, "This victory is the victory of the anti-colonialists and the anti-imperialists."

Morales dedicated his third term re-election to Hugo Chávez. Critics expressed fear that Morales would follow Chávez's lead and attempt to stay in office past 2020. The Constitution currently bars him from seeking a fourth term, but last year Bolivia's Constitutional Court ruled that Morales could run for a third term in the 2014 elections. Many suspect his party would seek another change to the Constitution, allowing him to run again like Chávez did in Venezuela.

NewsNews

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/13/world/americas/bolivia-seen-likely-to-re-elect-http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/13/world/americas/bolivia-seen-likely-to-re-elect-morales-as-president.html?ref=topicsmorales-as-president.html?ref=topics

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/17/opinion/evo-morales-of-bolivia-and-http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/17/opinion/evo-morales-of-bolivia-and-democracy.html?ref=topicsdemocracy.html?ref=topics

VideoVideo

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