Recent Politics of Bolivia
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Transcript of Recent Politics of Bolivia
Recent Politics of Bolivia
AKA why you should visit soon
Who’s Bolivia?
Hot, humid, sea level jungles:
- fish for piranhas- swim with
dolphins- animals / nature
galore
Dry, cold, high altitude salt flats:
- endless whiteness during winter, reflection during summer
- buildings made entirely of salt
...AND SO MUCH MORE!
- blood red lakes + flamingos
- 4000m downhill mountain biking
- natural geysers + hot springs
- silver mines where you can blow up dynamite
Bolivia = Happiness!?
Bolivia SHOULD be boomin’:- largest lithium deposit in the world (and hella
other minerals too)- 4th largest natural gas reserve in the world- smack dab in middle = aerospace hub- petroleum for days- prime quinoa territory
Bolivia = Sadness :(
- Bottom third poorest country in South America
- ~60% of population live in poverty
- 7 major protests (with wikipedia articles!!) and countless others since 2000
Root Cause Analysis
Most recent presidents:- Gonzalo Sánchez de
Lozada- Carlos Mesa- Eduardo Rodriguez- Evo Morales
⊡Grew up in the States, studied at University of Chicago
⊡Returned to Bolivia to produce films on revolution
⊡Spoke Spanish with a heavy accent (at times needed a translator)
⊡… then became president
Gonzalo Sanchez
⊡Encouraged citizens to invest in USD and said would improve relations with US
⊡Implemented shock therapy (a Harvard economic theory) - massive privatization and trade liberalization - to tackle hyperinflation
⊡Exported more natural gas to increase country’s revenue
Sanchez - the Good
⊡USD significantly dropped. People lost their life savings. US visas became even harder to get for Bolivians because cocaine
⊡Foreign companies took ownership of the newly privatized companies. No $$ for Bolivians
⊡People weren’t even getting enough natural gas in their own homes
Sanchez - the Bad
⊡Unhappy Bolivians = PROTESTS⊡Protests began about everything from
police wanting more pay to farmers wanting coca to be protected
⊡Citizens marched to President’s door demanding his resignation
⊡… he took a secret exit and ran off (allegedly with millions of $$) to the US
Sanchez - the Herp
Evo Morales
⊡Indigenous, low education, coca farmer
⊡Main concern is well being of citizens - lower poverty, illiteracy, racism
⊡Led many protests (including march to Gonzalo Sanchez)
⊡… then became president
Morales - the Good⊡Gave students money for going to school /
doing well in school -> dropped illiteracy⊡Built cable cars, better roads, soccer fields -
> happiness!⊡Renamed country to Plurinational State of
Bolivia -> unifies everyone, less racism!⊡Law of Mother Earth - banned GMOs⊡Nationalized previously privatized industries,
increased government cut of natural gas profits -> decreased poverty and increased GDP
Morales - the Bad
⊡Tried to increase population by taxing women who weren’t pregnant by 18 and by attempting to ban condoms
⊡Launched a satellite to improve communication speeds… accidentally a TV satellite
⊡Pushed for petroleum drilling, natural gas exploration, and highway building through national parks
Morales - the Derp
⊡Supposed to have two terms… did three since technically nation different after renaming!
⊡Popularity significantly declining per election. Previous election supposedly over 25,000 deceased people voted / loud dissenters went missing
⊡Many locals speculating Morales will turn nation into dictatorship to stay in power
BUT SALT FLATS THO
SO WORTH CHECKING OUT!!11
BETTER DO IT BEFORE THE COUNTRY GETS PWNED