Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Cambi-Kollas : Bridging the Divide? Highland Migrants in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

2009; Mid-Atlantic Council of Latin American Studies; Volume: 22; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.23870/81

2474-9621

Ken Lehman,

Politics and Society in Latin America

On August 10, 2008 Bolivians went to the polls in a recall referendum on President Evo Morales and eight of nine Departmental Prefects. Morales, who won the 2005 election with an impressive 54% of the vote, saw his support increase to over 67% in the recall election while opposition prefects in two crucial departments—La Paz and Cochabamba—were ousted. The results showed broad support for the bold reforms he favors: 1) beating back the forces of neo-liberalism and globalization, 2) moving instead—as his party’s name ( Movimiento al Socialismo ) unflinchingly proclaims—toward socialism; 3) ending forced eradication of peasant-grown coca while exploring new markets for the leaf; 4) redistributing the nation’s lands more equitably; and 5) reversing 500 years of oppression by restoring power to Bolivia’s indigenous majority through constitutional reforms.