The Andean country of Bolivia, on the other hand, is known to be the poorest country in South America as well as one of the most politically unstable ones in the world. “Throughout its 184-year history, it has had 82 different rulers or ruling coalitions, and heads of state have routinely arrived at the highest office in the land via coups, counter-coups, revolts, and popular protests.” However, from 1985 until 2003, Bolivia tried hard to break from this pattern by having five consecutive free and competitive elections. Towards the turn of the century, this instability surged once again as the citizens of the country stated to march on the streets, protesting the neoliberal economic polices being implemented by the government for the last
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This would cause its economy to adapt to the demands of the market and encourage more efficiency when being exposed to international competition. Hence, this new economic model was founded on the basis of ‘capitalization’ by privatizing large state-owned corporations so they could establish regulations in order to monitor their activities, their profits and generally the functioning of their key sectors. During this time, this capitalization program promoted steady growth rates of private investments and gains, enhancing the outcomes of the expected economic growth in the coming years. This neoliberal model did not address all the needs of the people, taking into consideration that that the majority of the population (60%), lived in poverty and the goals of the capitalistic policies was not necessarily in their benefit. Yet, drastic change was on its way as the overwhelming victory of anti-neoliberal political movements made Evo Morales, the leader of the political party MAS (movement towards socialism), the new leader of the …show more content…
However, it may experience an economic boom in the short run, just like Bolivia has been experiencing with its recent economic events and changes. “Its economy grew an estimated 6.5 percent last year, among the strongest rates in the region. Inflation has been kept in check. The budget is balanced, and once-crippling government debt has been slashed. And the country has a rainy-day fund of foreign reserves so large — for the size of its economy — that it could be the envy of nearly every other country in the world.” This is just a small note on Bolivia’s current economic situation, one that has been going uphill in just a short period of time. Bolivian voters have been giving the Morales administration credit for the nations strong economic growth, which is not surprising since this country has been one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America in the recent months. When relating this economic situation to the one in Venezuela in 2004 and 2005, it is evident that the population votes from their pocket books. In other words, this situation can be correlated to the re-election of Evo Morales for a third term with about sixty per cent of the vote and the control of two-thirds of Bolivia’s Senate and
This would cause its economy to adapt to the demands of the market and encourage more efficiency when being exposed to international competition. Hence, this new economic model was founded on the basis of ‘capitalization’ by privatizing large state-owned corporations so they could establish regulations in order to monitor their activities, their profits and generally the functioning of their key sectors. During this time, this capitalization program promoted steady growth rates of private investments and gains, enhancing the outcomes of the expected economic growth in the coming years. This neoliberal model did not address all the needs of the people, taking into consideration that that the majority of the population (60%), lived in poverty and the goals of the capitalistic policies was not necessarily in their benefit. Yet, drastic change was on its way as the overwhelming victory of anti-neoliberal political movements made Evo Morales, the leader of the political party MAS (movement towards socialism), the new leader of the …show more content…
However, it may experience an economic boom in the short run, just like Bolivia has been experiencing with its recent economic events and changes. “Its economy grew an estimated 6.5 percent last year, among the strongest rates in the region. Inflation has been kept in check. The budget is balanced, and once-crippling government debt has been slashed. And the country has a rainy-day fund of foreign reserves so large — for the size of its economy — that it could be the envy of nearly every other country in the world.” This is just a small note on Bolivia’s current economic situation, one that has been going uphill in just a short period of time. Bolivian voters have been giving the Morales administration credit for the nations strong economic growth, which is not surprising since this country has been one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America in the recent months. When relating this economic situation to the one in Venezuela in 2004 and 2005, it is evident that the population votes from their pocket books. In other words, this situation can be correlated to the re-election of Evo Morales for a third term with about sixty per cent of the vote and the control of two-thirds of Bolivia’s Senate and