Changes

== Economy ==

== Economy ==

Bolivia's estimated 2006 gross domestic product (GDP) totaled $10.3 billion. Economic growth was estimated at about 4.5%, and inflation was estimated at about 4.3%.  

Bolivia's estimated 2006 gross domestic product (GDP) totaled $10.3 billion. Economic growth was estimated at 4.5%, and inflation was estimated at 4.3%.  

In 1985, the Government of Bolivia implemented a far-reaching program of macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform aimed at maintaining price stability, creating conditions for sustained growth, and alleviating poverty. The most important change involved the "capitalization" (privatization) of numerous public sector enterprises. Parallel legislative reforms locked in place market-oriented policies that encouraged private investment. Foreign investors are accorded national treatment, and foreign ownership of companies is virtually unrestricted in Bolivia. Many of these reforms are currently under review. Nationalizations have taken place in both the hydrocarbon and mining sectors, and the role of the state in the economy continues to be a primary goal of the Morales administration. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows have dwindled as has long-term investment across most industrial sectors.  

In 1985, the Government of Bolivia implemented a far-reaching program of macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform aimed at maintaining price stability, creating conditions for sustained growth, and alleviating poverty. The most important change involved the "capitalization" (privatization) of numerous public sector enterprises. Parallel legislative reforms locked in place market-oriented policies that encouraged private investment. Foreign investors are accorded national treatment, and foreign ownership of companies is virtually unrestricted in Bolivia. Many of these reforms are currently under review. Nationalizations have taken place in both the hydrocarbon and mining sectors, and the role of the state in the economy continues to be a primary goal of the Morales administration. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows have dwindled as has long-term investment across most industrial sectors.  

The Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR) emerged as a broadly based party. Denied its victory in the 1951 presidential elections, the MNR led the successful 1952 revolution. Under President Victor Paz Estenssoro, the MNR introduced universal adult suffrage, carried out sweeping land reforms, promoted rural education, and nationalized the country's largest tin mines.  

The Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR) emerged as a broadly based party. Denied its victory in the 1951 presidential elections, the MNR led the successful 1952 revolution. Under President Victor Paz Estenssoro, the MNR introduced universal adult suffrage, carried out sweeping land reforms, promoted rural education, and nationalized the country's largest tin mines.  

Twelve years of tumultuous rule left the MNR divided. In 1964, a military [[junta]] overthrew President Paz Estenssoro at the outset of his third term. The 1969 death of President [[Rene Barrientos]], a former member of the junta elected President in 1966, led to a succession of weak governments. Alarmed by public disorder, the military, the MNR, and others installed Col. (later General) Hugo Banzer Suarez as President in 1971. Banzer ruled with MNR support from 1971 to 1974. Then, impatient with schisms in the coalition, he replaced civilians with members of the armed forces and suspended political activities.  

Twelve years of tumultuous rule left the MNR divided. In 1964, a military [[junta]] overthrew President Paz Estenssoro at the outset of his third term. The 1969 death of President [[Rene Barrientos]], a former member of the junta elected president in 1966, led to a succession of weak governments. Alarmed by public disorder, the military, the MNR, and others installed Col. (later General) Hugo Banzer Suarez as president in 1971. Banzer ruled with MNR support from 1971 to 1974. Then, impatient with schisms in the coalition, he replaced civilians with members of the armed forces and suspended political activities.  

The economy grew impressively during most of Banzer's presidency, but human rights violations and eventual fiscal crises undercut his support. He was forced to call elections in 1978, and Bolivia again entered a period of political turmoil. Elections in 1978, 1979, and 1980 were inconclusive and marked by fraud. There were coups, counter-coups, and caretaker governments.  

The economy grew impressively during most of Banzer's presidency, but human rights violations and eventual fiscal crises undercut his support. He was forced to call elections in 1978, and Bolivia again entered a period of political turmoil. Elections in 1978, 1979, and 1980 were inconclusive and marked by fraud. There were coups, counter-coups, and caretaker governments.  

In 1980, Gen. Luis Garcia Meza carried out a ruthless and violent coup. His government was notorious for human rights abuses, narcotics trafficking, and economic mismanagement. Later convicted in absentia for crimes, including murder, Garcia Meza was extradited from Brazil and began serving a 30-year sentence in 1995.  

In 1980, Gen. Luis Garcia Meza carried out a ruthless and violent coup. His government was notorious for human rights abuses, narcotics trafficking, and economic mismanagement. Later convicted in absentia for crimes, including murder, Garcia Meza was extradited from Brazil and began serving a 30-year sentence in 1995.  

After a military rebellion forced out Garcia Meza in 1981, three other military governments in 14 months struggled with Bolivia's growing problems. Unrest forced the military to convoke the Congress elected in 1980 and allow it to choose a new chief executive. In October 1982–22 years after the end of his first term of office (1956–60)--Hernan Siles Zuazo again became President. Severe social tension, exacerbated by economic mismanagement and weak leadership, forced him to call early elections and relinquish power a year before the end of his constitutional term.

After a military rebellion forced out Garcia Meza in 1981, three other military governments in 14 months struggled with Bolivia's growing problems. Unrest forced the military to convoke the Congress elected in 1980 and allow it to choose a new chief executive. In October 1982–22 years after the end of his first term of office (1956–60)--Hernan Siles Zuazo again became president. Severe social tension, exacerbated by economic mismanagement and weak leadership, forced him to call early elections and relinquish power a year before the end of his constitutional term.

=== Return to Democracy ===

=== Return to Democracy ===

Since then, President Morales has moved to fulfill his campaign promises, including raising the ceiling for licit coca cultivation from 12,000 hectares to 20,000 hectares. On May 1, 2006, the government issued a decree "nationalizing" the hydrocarbons sector and calling for the renegotiation of contracts with hydrocarbons companies. In November 2006, the government and companies signed new contracts that should result in higher revenues for the government; however, vagaries in the contracts are requiring further negotiations and clarification. Morales has continued to promote greater state control of natural resource industries, particularly hydrocarbons and mining (see Economy section.) These policies have pleased Morales' supporters, but have complicated Bolivia's relations with some of its neighboring countries, foreign investors, and members of the international community.  

Since then, President Morales has moved to fulfill his campaign promises, including raising the ceiling for licit coca cultivation from 12,000 hectares to 20,000 hectares. On May 1, 2006, the government issued a decree "nationalizing" the hydrocarbons sector and calling for the renegotiation of contracts with hydrocarbons companies. In November 2006, the government and companies signed new contracts that should result in higher revenues for the government; however, vagaries in the contracts are requiring further negotiations and clarification. Morales has continued to promote greater state control of natural resource industries, particularly hydrocarbons and mining (see Economy section.) These policies have pleased Morales' supporters, but have complicated Bolivia's relations with some of its neighboring countries, foreign investors, and members of the international community.  

Under the leadership of Morales and his institution of socialist-oriented economic policies, Bolivia's GDP grew an average of 4.8% a year from 2004 to 2017, while the percentage of the population living in extreme poverty was more than halved from approximately 36% down to 17% during that time. This extremely-rare success of socialist economic policies earned Morales massive public support. However, his massive economic success came at a major cost to the natural environmental splendor of Bolivia, as he prioritized Economic gain above the environment. His encouragement of slash-and-burn farming has led to large wildfires that devastated the delicate forest ecosystems of the Bolivian Amazon, with more than 250,000 acres of forest lost of fire. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/11/26/781199250/how-evo-morales-made-bolivia-a-better-place-before-he-was-forced-to-flee|title=How Evo Morales Made Bolivia A Better Place ... Before He Fled The Country|date=November 26, 2019|publisher=NPR|language=en}}</ref>

Under the leadership of Morales and his institution of socialist-oriented economic policies, Bolivia's GDP grew an average of 4.8% a year from 2004 to 2017, while the percentage of the population living in extreme poverty was more than halved from approximately 36% down to 17% during that time. This extremely-rare success of socialist economic policies earned Morales massive public support. However, his massive economic success came at a major cost to the natural environmental splendor of Bolivia, as he prioritized Economic gain above the environment. His encouragement of slash-and-burn farming has led to large wildfires that devastated the delicate forest ecosystems of the Bolivian Amazon, with more than 250,000 acres of forest lost of fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/11/26/781199250/how-evo-morales-made-bolivia-a-better-place-before-he-was-forced-to-flee|title=How Evo Morales Made Bolivia A Better Place ... Before He Fled The Country|date=November 26, 2019|publisher=NPR|language=en}}</ref>

President Morales also secured passage of legislation convoking a special election for delegates to a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. The MAS performed well in those elections, capturing 137 of 255 seats. The assembly convened on August 6, 2006, and planned to complete its work by August 2007; however, the Bolivian Congress extended its mandate to December 14, 2007. The assembly has made little progress to date, largely due to a political deadlock over the constituent assembly's voting rules. Although rules were ostensibly clarified in February 2007, the subject reemerged in August, after the legality of a vote to exclude the location of the capital was contested by the opposition. As of September 2007, the constituent assembly was in recess until October.

President Morales also secured passage of legislation convoking a special election for delegates to a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. The MAS performed well in those elections, capturing 137 of 255 seats. The assembly convened on August 6, 2006, and planned to complete its work by August 2007; however, the Bolivian Congress extended its mandate to December 14, 2007. The assembly has made little progress to date, largely due to a political deadlock over the constituent assembly's voting rules. Although rules were ostensibly clarified in February 2007, the subject reemerged in August, after the legality of a vote to exclude the location of the capital was contested by the opposition. As of September 2007, the constituent assembly was in recess until October.

In Dec. 2009 President far-left [[Evo Morales]] won a second term by a landslide, with 61% of the vote; his '''Movement to Socialism''' party won a two-thirds majority in Congress. The results allow him to implement a new constitution granting new rights to indigenous peoples and to strengthen state control over the economy, which conservatives have denounced as socialism similar to that of [[Hugo Chavez]] in [[Venezuela]].<ref>see [https://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_ID=15065929 '"Economist'' report]</ref>

In Dec. 2009 President far-left [[Evo Morales]] won a second term by a landslide, with 61% of the vote; his '''Movement to Socialism''' party won a two-thirds majority in Congress. The results allow him to implement a new constitution granting new rights to indigenous peoples and to strengthen state control over the economy, which conservatives have denounced as socialism similar to that of [[Hugo Chavez]] in [[Venezuela]].<ref>see [https://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_ID=15065929 '"Economist'' report]</ref>

In 2019, Morales won the presidential election again, though his opponents alleged widespread fraud. This led to widespread protests which led to him fleeing the country, an event some of which have called a coup. <ref>Machicao, Monica; Ramos, Daniel; Limchi, Sergio (November 10, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election-democracy/bolivia-is-shattered-election-crisis-leaves-deeply-divided-nation-idUSKBN1XK0K0 'Bolivia is shattered': Election crisis leaves deeply divided nation]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved November 10, 2019.</ref> Amid massive anti-Morales protests, the military called on him to step down and members of the police joined the protestors.<ref>Multiple references:

In 2019, Morales won the presidential election again, though his opponents alleged widespread fraud. This led to widespread protests which led to him fleeing the country, an event some of which have called a coup.<ref>Machicao, Monica; Ramos, Daniel; Limchi, Sergio (November 10, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election-democracy/bolivia-is-shattered-election-crisis-leaves-deeply-divided-nation-idUSKBN1XK0K0 'Bolivia is shattered': Election crisis leaves deeply divided nation]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved November 10, 2019.</ref> Amid massive anti-Morales protests, the military called on him to step down and members of the police joined the protestors.<ref>Multiple references:

*Ramos, Daniel; Machicao, Monica (November 10, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election/bolivias-morales-teeters-as-allies-resign-in-election-backlash-idUSKBN1XK07T Bolivia's military calls on Morales to step down as election fallout widens]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved November 10, 2019.

*Ramos, Daniel; Machicao, Monica (November 10, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election/bolivias-morales-teeters-as-allies-resign-in-election-backlash-idUSKBN1XK07T Bolivia's military calls on Morales to step down as election fallout widens]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved November 10, 2019.

*Ramos, Daniel (November 9, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election/bolivian-government-decries-coup-as-some-police-join-protests-idUSKBN1XJ0A2 Bolivia military says won't 'confront' the people as pressure on Morales builds]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved November 10, 2019.

*Ramos, Daniel (November 9, 2019). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election/bolivian-government-decries-coup-as-some-police-join-protests-idUSKBN1XJ0A2 Bolivia military says won't 'confront' the people as pressure on Morales builds]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved November 10, 2019.

She also implemented a flag in the representation of the Eastern part of Bolivia, and changed the official newspaper (used in Evo's government as propaganda) name from ''Cambio'' to ''Bolivia''.

She also implemented a flag in the representation of the Eastern part of Bolivia, and changed the official newspaper (used in Evo's government as propaganda) name from ''Cambio'' to ''Bolivia''.

Áñez gave more power to the military to control the situation in the country, however, she was widely criticized domestically as well as internationally for major human rights abuses against the native Indigenous population, of which were major supporters of former president Morales. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/mundo/bolivia-decreto-jeanine-anez-quitarle-responsabilidad-penal-fuerzas-armadas-protestas_0_AwNOgZKd.html|title=Bolivia: el decreto de Jeanine Áñez para quitarle la "responsabilidad penal" a las Fuerzas Armadas ante las protestas|publisher=Clarin|language=es|date=November 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The world’s as divided about Bolivia’s alleged coup as Bolivians themselves|url=https://qz.com/1748281/experts-are-divided-on-evo-morales-and-bolivias-alleged-coup/|publisher=Quartz|date=November 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/bolivia-anez-celebrates-militarys-209th-anniversary/1646402|title=Bolivia: Anez celebrates military's 209th anniversary|date=November 15, 2019|publisher=AA}}</ref>

Áñez gave more power to the military to control the situation in the country, however, she was widely criticized domestically as well as internationally for major human rights abuses against the native Indigenous population, of which were major supporters of former president Morales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/mundo/bolivia-decreto-jeanine-anez-quitarle-responsabilidad-penal-fuerzas-armadas-protestas_0_AwNOgZKd.html|title=Bolivia: el decreto de Jeanine Áñez para quitarle la "responsabilidad penal" a las Fuerzas Armadas ante las protestas|publisher=Clarin|language=es|date=November 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The world’s as divided about Bolivia’s alleged coup as Bolivians themselves|url=https://qz.com/1748281/experts-are-divided-on-evo-morales-and-bolivias-alleged-coup/|publisher=Quartz|date=November 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/bolivia-anez-celebrates-militarys-209th-anniversary/1646402|title=Bolivia: Anez celebrates military's 209th anniversary|date=November 15, 2019|publisher=AA}}</ref>

In October of 2020 elections were made and the Jeanine Áñez Administration ended on November 8, 2020. The Elections resulted in a landslide victory for the Movimiento al Socialismo canidate, Luis Arce.

In October 2020 elections were made and the Jeanine Áñez Administration ended on November 8, 2020. The Elections resulted in a landslide victory for the Movimiento al Socialismo candidate, Luis Arce.

=== Luis Arce Presidency (2020–) ===

=== Luis Arce Presidency (2020–) ===

Luis Arce, a socialist-oriented economist-turned-politician from the Movimiento al Socialismo party, won the presidency in a landslide vote of 55% and began the path of undoing the changes that former president Áñez had on Bolivia.  

Luis Arce, a socialist-oriented economist-turned-politician from the Movimiento al Socialismo party, won the presidency in a landslide vote of 55% and began the path of undoing the changes that former president Áñez had on Bolivia.  

In March 2021, the former interim President Áñez was arrested with the charge of 'sedition' after she tried to flee the country to Brazil via Private Plane.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Bolivia-Jeanine-Anez-Prevented-From-Leaving-the-Country.-20201124-0015.html|title=JBolivia: Jeanine Anez Prevented From Leaving the Country|date=Nov 24, 2020|publisher=Telesur|language=en}}</ref> Other former government officials from her Administration are being prosecuted for alledged corruption as well as human rights abuses, including attempted genocide. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/23/bolivia-anez-genocide/|title=Anez genocide prosecution tests Bolivian justice under Arce|date=Aug 23, 2021|publisher=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref>

In March 2021, the former interim President Áñez was arrested with the charge of 'sedition' after she tried to flee the country to Brazil via Private Plane.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Bolivia-Jeanine-Anez-Prevented-From-Leaving-the-Country.-20201124-0015.html|title=JBolivia: Jeanine Anez Prevented From Leaving the Country|date=Nov 24, 2020|publisher=Telesur|language=en}}</ref> Other former government officials from her Administration are being prosecuted for alleged corruption as well as human rights abuses, including attempted genocide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/23/bolivia-anez-genocide/|title=Anez genocide prosecution tests Bolivian justice under Arce|date=Aug 23, 2021|publisher=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref>

== References ==

== References ==