History/Politics/Economy
Bolivia's history is one of incredible oppression. Cerro Rico, the silver mountain at Potosí, is now the poorest region of South America's poorest country. It is history's largest silver deposit ever and in the mid 1600's represented 90 percent of America's silver exports, during which time 8 million slaves - Indians and blacks - died within the mountain. 1572 introduced the Ley de Mita, which forced all the adult Indians and blacks to work in the underworld for four month stretches at a time. During the next century, an Indian living in Potosís who worked in mining died on average after four years.

The Spanish conquered Bolivia in 1538 and named the area Alto Perú (Upper Peru). The 17^th and 18^th centuries saw a number of uprisings by the indigenous people against the Spanish empire, but it was not until 1825 that the country finally declared itself independent and named itself after the South American freedom hero Simón Bolívar. As a result of the Pacific War of 1879-1883, Bolivia lost its coastline to Chile. In the Chaco War during the 1930s, the country lost another section of land in the southeast to Paraguay. During much of the 1900's the country was run by various hard-line military regimes, but since 1982 it has been governed democratically.

In 1985 the world market demand for tin crashed and a large proportion of the mines were closed; 23,000 miners lost their jobs and the urban unemployment rate doubled in three years. At the same time the demand for cocaine exploded to its heights in the U.S. and Europe resulting in an exodus of unemployed miners to the region of Chapare, in central Bolivia, which is suitable for coca cultivation. Coca is also easy to grow for people who had experience in agriculture. The population of Chapare doubled during the 1980's. Coca became the country's main export, representing between 20 to 50 percent of the nation's GDP. Intervention from the U.S. led to flat coco cero, i.e. the destruction of all coca plantations. Now former coca growers try to cultivate other crops or become travelling salesmen.

Coca has been chewed in the Andes for 4000 years and remains an integral part of the daily diet of more than half of the mountain's inhabitants. It suppresses hunger and fatigue and there is no indication that it is harmful. On the contrary, it has proven medicinal effects. In 1860, cocaine was developed by German chemists but it is not consumed to any great extent by Bolivians themselves. The new government is endeavouring to find new uses for Coca, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Agriculture is dominated by some 50,000 families who own 90 percent of the country's fertile agricultural land while the vast majority has to rely on small plots for subsistence farming. A reform to reallocate state land to the landless has been implemented by the new government.

Bolivia is currently undergoing a process of transformation of historic proportions. One of the most burning questions under consideration is how Bolivia should manage its vast natural riches, particularly natural gas. In 2005, a new energy law was passed, and in May 2006 the state further strengthened its control over the industry and raised the tax. The new order requires that the contracts with gas companies must be renegotiated. The radical left won in the presidential elections of December 2005, with Evo Morales and his party MAS (Movement Toward Socialism, the Movement for Socialism) winning by a large majority. President Morales became the first democratically elected president in Bolivia's history, and has roots in the indigenous population. MAS also won a strong presence in Congress, with its own majority in the Chamber of Deputies, although not in the Senate. President Morales' government has had a number of difficult issues to tackle, the first of which was to establish a constitutional founding congregation. After two years of work, a referendum was passed in January 2009, which the Indian Movement and the majority of leftist radicals regard as a historic victory. In the rich south-eastern region of Bolivia there are forces driving the issue of greater regional autonomy or independence. The use of the significant natural resources of the country (mainly gas) as well as the future of coca cultivation are significant ongoing issues for the government.

Environmental Problems
Forests have been destroyed to make way for agriculture and to meet international demand for tropical tree species. This has resulted in soil erosion and loss of biodiversity. Another environmental problem is the pollution of water by industries. Around 45% of electricity is produced by fossil fuels and the remainder mostly by hydropower.

Indian Population
In Bolivia, there are about 35 different kinds of indigenous peoples. Of these, the three largest are Quechuas, who constitute 30% of the population, Aymara are 25%, there are180,000 Chiquitano, and 125,000 Guarani. 30% are mestizos and 15% are white. 62% live in urban areas and 38% live in rural areas.

Education
Indigenous people had the right to education in Bolivia until 1952, but the education system did not one that reflect their own culture. Among the indigenous population, illiteracy is still widespread, but a program initiated by Evo Morales has achieved considerable success in eradicating illiteracy. It is difficult to effectively exercise the right to attend school and even harder to earn a high school diploma or study at university. Girls have a lower school enrollment rate. It is not uncommon for girls to drop out of school early in order to work.

Womens' Situation
On average, women are paid 60 percent of their male counterparts' wages for equal work. Illiteracy is twice as high among women as among men. Only 67 percent of girls are enrolled in any school. In 2005, only 24 percent of the members of parliament were women. These figures suggest a strong male-dominated society. Traditionally, men and women were equal. Chacha-Warmi (Male-female) is a term in the Andean philosophy in which men and women are complementary to each other. It is an alternative to feminism that some parts of the Indian movement are trying to popularize. However, the general situation among the Indian population in the country is one in which women have a significantly increased workload and little voice in society. In the new government, women are better represented, which might eventually lead to a rise in the status of women.

AIDS and HIV
Bolivia is one of the countries in Latin America with the lowest rate of HIV / AIDS infection. 0.1 percent of adults between 15 and 49 are infected. It is most prevalent among men who have unprotected sex with each other. In 2005 there were 6,800 AIDS patients, of whom 1,900 were women. There have been 500 registered deaths from AIDS.

The SOFIA Association 2009