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“We cannot have equilibrium in this world with the current inequality and destruction of Mother Earth. Capitalism is what is causing this problem and it needs to end.”
— Evo Morales
Bolivia, like many countries in Latin America, experienced revolutionary movements that changed the political institutions and systems in place forever. A unique aspect of the revolutions that took place in Bolivia is the mobilization of Indigenous populations to get involved in the electoral system and social movements. Indigenous populations for years had little to no political power in Bolivia, but all that changed due to Evo Morales and his control of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party. Historically, revolutions in Bolivia were born out of citizens being frustrated with their government and certain neoliberal economic policies that benefited few and hurt many. It can be difficult to explain why revolutions happen, and how to measure their outcomes. Due to the dedication and scholarly work of James Defronzo, there is some explanation as to why these revolutions happened in Bolivia. Collective frustration and citizens being passionate about making their political system more just propelled these revolutions forward. Revolutions in Bolivia have been mobilized by people with little power, but they were able to make historical change.
Starting in 1932, the Bolivian government made it their goal to reclaim land previously lost during a war with Chile; however, it was Paraguay who were currently using the land as a farming area. For this reason, the Paraguayan government would not allow Bolivia to reclaim their lost land. This led to a war between the two countries and resulted in Paraguay holding onto the land. Not only did this devastate Bolivians for they had lost more land than they started with, but 100,000 soldiers were killed in the process. The people, losing trust in their government, began creating the Revolutionary National Movement (MNR) party.
The MNR party led a coalition putting a heavy focus on Indigenous communal rights, which brought a large following. The organization became prominent in politics, ultimately taking over by 1943. Soon after, Bolivian society began to change. The party provided arms to civilians for their own personal protection, disposed of literacy requirements for voting, and established the National Labor Federation. While the growth of the MNR party appeared to be a turning point in society, there is persistent pushback from opposition groups. Following the 1951 election, in which the MNR party won, their power continued to be compromised. After not winning a clear majority of the vote, General Hugo Ballivian and his military junta ruled the victory invalid. In response, civilian-led armed militias began to rise around the country (Otherwise known as the COB 4 Prominent Bolivian Military during the mid-20th century). Served as president from 1951-1952 members of the national army turned against their leadership. Fights qui