Evo Morales Bolivia - Case Study Example

Evo Morales' Bolivia Evo Morales' Bolivia Goes Here al Affiliation Goes Here Evo Morales' Bolivia Introduction Evo Morales won the Bolivian Presidency on a ticket that was heavy in promoting improvements in indigenous people's quality of life. Since colonization by Spain indigenous peoples have endured 500 hundred years of poverty, discrimination, and oppression. Evo Morales, the first indigenous president of Bolivia, has taken on the task of changing how the government works and treats indigenous peoples. His presidency has sought to eliminate the class system that pits the Bolivian white minority over the indigenous population. Morales has inherited a Bolivia that includes a high poverty rate and an undereducated population. In La Paz, the Bolivian capital city, whites are the majority with menial tasks left to the indigenous population that comes to La Paz from the poor sister city of El Alto to work. Many refer to El Alto as La Paz's shanty town. The majority population in Bolivia is Aymaras or Quechuas Indian from the "original nations of the Andes" (Brea, 2007). The majority in Bolivia are poor indigenous peoples. 1. Morales and Other Socialist Heads of State Morales has done much to secure relationships with other socialist heads of state. He visited many nations who have established socialist agendas within their countries. Those visited include Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Cuba's Fidel Castro. The goal of those visits was to align Bolivia's government with other successful socialist states. A result of those visits was economic aid from Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. Morales' political party (Movement for Socialism) rejects the neo-liberal policies and capitalism of the United States in favor of a socialist government that focuses on improving the welfare of all Bolivians. The focus of Morales' political campaign had been in support of indigenous rights. In his inaugural address Morales stated: "The 500 years of Indian resistance have not been in vain. From 500 years of resistance we pass to another 500 years in powerWe have been condemned, humiliatedand never recognized as human beingsWe are here and we say that we have achieved power to end the injustice, the inequality and oppression that we have lived under." (Brea, 2007) 2. Economic Policies and Nationalization One of Morales' first moves was the nationalization of Bolivia's hydrocarbons. Prior to nationalization foreign companies took the majority of profits and left the Bolivians with a mere 18% of the profits. Bolivia's "Gas War" began with the people's protesting against privatization of Bolivia's natural resources. Although past presidents had declared Bolivia's natural resources as property of the State (Martinez, 2007) Bolivia's leaders continued to bow down to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) mandated reforms. Thus, Bolivia's resources were sold with profits going to foreign corporations in the oil and gas business (82%) (Martinez, 2007). 89% of Bolivian voters requested that the government take control of Bolivia's natural resources (Martinez, 2007). Many believe that Evo Morales nationalized Bolivia's natural resources by following Venezuela's Hugo Chavez's lead. In fact Morales actually followed Norway's lead in nationalizing their oil resources. Norway's government receives 90% of the revenue generated by the sale of oil (Martinez, 2007). In addition, Norway's government owns the most shares of the State's oil company. Despite nationalization, private companies that received the 82% of profits prior to nationalization continue to operate within Bolivia receiving lower profits (including Exxon-Mobile, a U.S. Corporation). The Bolivian government did not seize assets of companies working within Bolivia, just the higher cut of the profits generated by the sale of oil and natural gas by these companies. The profits from oil and gas sales have been used by the Bolivian government to improve the educational system within Bolivia and make available low/no interest loans to the poor to purchase homes. Families with children in school receive cash payments from the State as an incentive to keep those children in school. Prior to this funding students left school early to work to help support their families. Although statistics are not yet available to show that this tactic is working general consensus is that it is working. Gas and oil are not the only natural resources nationalized by the Bolivian government. Part of Bolivia's neo-liberal past included the privatization of water demanded by the World Bank (Webber, 2005). A multinational consortium led by Bechtel Corporation (a U.S. company) held the rights to the water in Bolivia. In 2000 the multi-class Cochabamba Water War ousted the consortium and reversed the privatization of water within Bolivia (Webber, 2005). The water wars led to the downfall of the neo-liberal economic model within Bolivia. Most significantly, individuals from the various classes came together to fight for their water rights. Those that did included farmers that required irrigation and urban water users. Another significant development that resulted from the water wars was that "popular forces rearticulated themselves with a new recognition of racial oppression and with indigenous peasants playing a much more advanced role" (Webber, 2005). The indigenous peoples of Bolivia had found their voice! Bolivia's second "water war" was located in the indigenous city of El Alto. The residents demanded a reversal of privatization that had put water resources under the control of the French Suez Consortium. The citizens of El Alto demanded that the consortium be replaced by a non-profit nationalized water company (Webber, 2005). The citizens effectively shut down transportation routes to and from La Paz, occupied the airport in Santa Cruz and buildings in La Paz. The oil and natural gas wars along with the water wars gave the indigenous population an opportunity to voice their discontent with the Governments association with trans-nationals and the rich. Many of those associated with Evo Morales' political party (Movement for Socialism) marched in favour of nationalizing Bolivia's natural resources. Since Evo Morales has held the presidency Bolivia's debts to the IMF have been cancelled. With those debts cancelled Bolivia is no longer under the IMF's control. Privatization of Bolivia's natural resources has been reversed by nationalization. Bolivia's indigenous majority are receiving the benefits of nationalization (low/no interest loans and funding for educational programs). 3. Relationship with the United States Although Evo Morales' government has a rocky relationship with the United States Evo Morales has a good relationship with some of the American public. Many Americans are interested in how this indigenous farmer from Bolivia has risen to leadership and nationalized the country's natural resources to support programs to help indigenous peoples. In October of 2007 Morales met with representatives of New York's Latino, labour, and other communities (while visiting the United Nations) to discuss how he came to power in Bolivia and the interests of indigenous peoples (James, 2007). He also listened to the concerns of those in the communities represented. Evo Morales' government does not have a good relationship with the U.S. government and are pulling out of the ICSID (World Bank's International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes). "The ICSID is used by U.S. and European corporations to counter efforts by developing countries to re-nationalize natural resources" (James, 2007). In addition, Morales' government has requested the extradition of former Bolivian president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada so he can be tried on charges that he ordered troops to fire on protestors (killing many). The Unites States has not cooperated and has not consented to Lozada's extradition to Bolivia. Lozada currently lives in Washington D.C. (Capital of the United States). Morales wants the United States to close its Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) in Bolivia believing that the United States uses this organization to promote opposition to Morales' government. The U.S. also has an OTI office in Venezuela that Hugo Chavez wants closed. Another major disconnect between the United States and Bolivia is the growing of coca plants. Farmers in Bolivia grow coca plants. Coca is used to manufacture cocaine that is sold mainly in the United States. But, coca plants are also used for religious and medicinal purposes by the Andean Indians. The Indians often chew the coca plant or brew tea using the coca plant. Before Evo Morales became president he led 'cocaleros' that created roadblocks to stop the Bolivian Army from entering their fields and destroying their coca crops. The Bolivian soldiers were part of the United State's effort to eradicate coca plants/crops in favour of "alternative development projects" within Bolivia (Langman, 2004). President Morales has continued to support the coca farmers while also fighting drug trafficking in Bolivia. In his inaugural address Morales stated: "We want allies in the fight against drug trafficking, we know and we are convinced that this business hurts humanity. However, the fight against drug trafficking can not be and excuse for the U.S. government to dominate our nations" (Brea, 2007). 4. Indigenous Rights It is very clear that Evo Morales has taken on the cause of the indigenous population in Bolivia. He has followed his friend, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, in the creation of a socialist state within Bolivia. Morales has called capitalism the "worst enemy of humanity" (Brea, 2007). Like Chavez, Morales has nationalized his country's natural resources and directed profits towards improving the state of indigenous peoples of Bolivia. The election of Evo Morales as president of Bolivia has secured (at least temporarily) the improvement of the lives of impoverished indigenous peoples. Morales wants to govern as his ancestors governed with participation, community work, and honesty (Brea, 2007). 5. Conclusion Evo Morales has achieved what no other indigenous person has ever done in Bolivia. He was elected president of Bolivia. Morales's party (Movemento al Socialismo) has focused on stopping privatization of Bolivia's natural resources. Upon becoming president of Bolivia Morales nationalized Bolivia's natural resources (oil and natural gas). The water wars resulted in the nationalization of that resource. Morales has stated that he considers access to water as a basic human right. Evo Morales has joined forces with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez in condemning the United States' neo-liberalism and imperialism while allying Bolivia with Venezuela and Cuba. Morales sees the Free Trade Area of the Americas "as an agreement to legalize the colonization of the Americas" (Brea, 2007). The government of President Evo Morales has focused on improving the human condition of the indigenous Aymaras and Quechuas Indians. The indigenous Indians of Bolivia are the majority population but endure poverty. Historically the indigenous population has endured condemnation, humiliation, injustice, inequality, and oppression from the white descendants of those who colonized Bolivia. The indigenous peoples have resisted for 500 years and have succeeded in electing an indigenous Indian to the presidency of Bolivia. This president is the hope of the people. With nationalization of natural resources it is believed that Bolivia may move past the title as the poorest nation in the Americas. Morales' administration has already redirected monies toward education and low/no interest loans for the poor to buy adequate housing. Morales is the hero of El Alto and coca farmers. He has supported the growing of the coca plant that is considered sacred to the peoples of the Andes. Morales has condemned the use of the coca plant in the production of cocaine while supporting its traditional medicinal uses. He is a critic of U.S. Drug policies and does not support the U.S. policy of eradication of coca plants and farming (Brea, 2007). Morales, like Hugo Chavez, has taken on a superpower (the United States) and has supported programs that have the best interest of Bolivians in mind. Like his friends, Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro, Morales has moved to create a socialist state from the Bolivia of the past. Morales is the hero of the poor and indigenous populations who are just beginning to see the changes that benefit them. References American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Brea, Jennifer. (2007). Evo Morales, President of Bolivia. World News About.Com. Retrieved January 13, 2008 From http://worldnews.about.com/whoswhoinworldaffairs/p/evomorales.htm Bolivia's Breaking Point. (2007, December 22) Global Agenda, The Economist. Retrieved January 12, 2008 from www.economist.com. Bolivia Takes On The Super Power. (2006, January 21) Economist, Economist Newspaper Limited Retrieved January 12, 2008 From www.economist.com. James, Deborah and Medea Benjamin. (2007, October 1). Bolivia's Evo Morales Wins Hearts and Minds in US. Retrieved January 12, 2008 From Common Dreams News Center at www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/10/01/4224/ Langman, Jimmy. (2004, May 3). A Man For The People. Newsweek (Atlantic Edition), 143(18), 37-37. A Leftist Landslide in the Andes. (2005, December 24th). Economist, Economist Newspaper Limited Retrieved January 12, 2008 from www.economist.com. Martinez, Nadia. (2007, August). Bolivia's Nationalization, Understanding the Process and Gauging the Results. Institute For Policy Studies, Washington D.C. Retrieved January 12, 2008 From www.ips-dc.org Webber, Jeffery R. (2005, September). Left-Indigenous Struggles in Bolivia: Searching for Revolutionary Democracy. Retrieved January 12, 2008 From www.monthlyreview.org/0905webber.htm. Evo Morales' Bolivia Introduction Morales and Other Socialist Heads of State Economic Policies and Nationalization Relationship with the United States Indigenous Rights Conclusion Read More