Socialism Works 2: Evo Morales
Evo Morales' first term in office (2006-2010), was the most far-reaching in terms of structural changes, it is worth highlighting the fulfillment of the so-called "October Agenda," with two fundamental measures standing out: a) the nationalization of the natural gas industry, which was accomplished with much symbolism on May 1, 2006 and b) the constituent assembly, which after a rocky road led to the adoption by referendum (January 2009) of a new political constitution within a state now conceived as plurinational.
With the nationalizations of the natural gas industry and other strategically important companies, such as in the telecommunications sector (Entel), which coincided with a boom period due to the rise in international commodity prices, the Bolivian state overcame its beg-thy-neighbor status (the so-called "state with holes") and progress was made toward becoming a strong state with a comprehensive territorial presence. Thus, public investment became the main source of a model for growth, economic stability, and top-down redistribution that was praised by all international organizations.
Moreover, despite numerous difficulties and delays, important steps were taken to achieve the longed-for industrialization of the natural gas sector and other major undertakings (power generation, iron production, exploitation of lithium reserves).
The new constitution, in turn, brought progress and fundamental achievements within the framework of the new, plurinational state model with self-government. The constitutional recognition of the subject "indígena originario campesino" (roughly: people of indigenous and peasant descent) and its inclusion in state structures and in the public-political sphere can also be counted among the significant successes. The plurinationality of the state is an achievement under construction, as is the progress made on the long road to greater territorial self-government, including the possibility of autonomy for indigenous communities.
In addition, of course, the reduction of social inequality and especially economic poverty must not be forgotten. According to official figures, during Evo Morales' term in office, poverty fell from 59.9 percent to 34.6 percent, while extreme poverty dropped from 38.2 percent to 15.2 percent, due in part to various social benefits (bonos) for vulnerable segments of the population (Renta Dignidad for the elderly, Bono Juancito Pinto for school-age children, Bono Juana Azurduy for pregnant women).
Numerous studies by international organizations, such as those by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), also highlight as an achievement that during Evo Morales' reign the middle class has grown from 3.3 million (2005) to about seven million (2018) people.
Also important to mention is the development made due to the new constitutional and regulatory framework in gender equality, equal opportunities for women and men, and especially gender parity at the different legislative levels (national parliament, state parliaments, municipal councils), made possible by the permanent mobilization of diverse women's movements.
Other obvious successes include the reduction of social inequalities, the drastic reduction in illiteracy, good macroeconomic indicators, the halving of the unemployment rate (from 8.1 to 4.2 percent), the steady increase in the minimum wage, the increase in general life expectancy, and significant public investment in the country's infrastructure (especially in trunk and rural roads in countless construction projects, especially in rural areas).
Finally, there are those successes that cannot be measured by indicators, namely the restoration of Bolivia's dignity and sovereignty in the international context.
With the nationalizations of the natural gas industry and other strategically important companies, such as in the telecommunications sector (Entel), which coincided with a boom period due to the rise in international commodity prices, the Bolivian state overcame its beg-thy-neighbor status (the so-called "state with holes") and progress was made toward becoming a strong state with a comprehensive territorial presence. Thus, public investment became the main source of a model for growth, economic stability, and top-down redistribution that was praised by all international organizations.
Moreover, despite numerous difficulties and delays, important steps were taken to achieve the longed-for industrialization of the natural gas sector and other major undertakings (power generation, iron production, exploitation of lithium reserves).
The new constitution, in turn, brought progress and fundamental achievements within the framework of the new, plurinational state model with self-government. The constitutional recognition of the subject "indígena originario campesino" (roughly: people of indigenous and peasant descent) and its inclusion in state structures and in the public-political sphere can also be counted among the significant successes. The plurinationality of the state is an achievement under construction, as is the progress made on the long road to greater territorial self-government, including the possibility of autonomy for indigenous communities.
In addition, of course, the reduction of social inequality and especially economic poverty must not be forgotten. According to official figures, during Evo Morales' term in office, poverty fell from 59.9 percent to 34.6 percent, while extreme poverty dropped from 38.2 percent to 15.2 percent, due in part to various social benefits (bonos) for vulnerable segments of the population (Renta Dignidad for the elderly, Bono Juancito Pinto for school-age children, Bono Juana Azurduy for pregnant women).
Numerous studies by international organizations, such as those by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), also highlight as an achievement that during Evo Morales' reign the middle class has grown from 3.3 million (2005) to about seven million (2018) people.
Also important to mention is the development made due to the new constitutional and regulatory framework in gender equality, equal opportunities for women and men, and especially gender parity at the different legislative levels (national parliament, state parliaments, municipal councils), made possible by the permanent mobilization of diverse women's movements.
Other obvious successes include the reduction of social inequalities, the drastic reduction in illiteracy, good macroeconomic indicators, the halving of the unemployment rate (from 8.1 to 4.2 percent), the steady increase in the minimum wage, the increase in general life expectancy, and significant public investment in the country's infrastructure (especially in trunk and rural roads in countless construction projects, especially in rural areas).
Finally, there are those successes that cannot be measured by indicators, namely the restoration of Bolivia's dignity and sovereignty in the international context.
