Bolivia's Evolution: Morales' Impact And Legacy

Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, served as the country's 65th president from 2006 to 2019. Morales' administration focused on implementing left-wing policies, improving the legal rights and socioeconomic conditions of Bolivia's long-marginalised indigenous population, and combating the political influence of the United States and multinational corporations. Morales' supporters laud him as a champion of indigenous rights, anti-imperialism, and environmentalism.

Increased taxation on the hydrocarbon industry to fund social spending

As the first indigenous president of Bolivia, Evo Morales implemented a series of policies that increased taxation on the hydrocarbon industry to fund social spending. Morales' administration oversaw strong economic growth and reduced Bolivia's dependence on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Morales' government moved Bolivia towards a mixed economy, increasing state control over the hydrocarbon industry and renegotiating contracts with foreign energy companies. This allowed the government to redirect revenue from natural resources into social spending. Starting in 2006, approximately 4,500 educational facilities were built with funds from the nationalised hydrocarbon industry and the commodities boom. Morales also established a cash transfer program called Bono Juancito Pinto, which provided $28 per year to young children to enrol in primary education and stay in school. In 2009, he implemented a universal monthly pension program called Renta Dignidad for people aged 60 or older, resulting in an annual income of about $342. That same year, Morales established the Bono Juana Azurduy, which provided cash bonuses as an incentive for women to regularly visit healthcare facilities during pregnancy and the first two years after childbirth.

Morales' administration also invested in infrastructure. For example, the government built a towering government skyscraper in Bolivia's administrative capital of La Paz, complete with a helipad and a luxury presidential apartment. However, critics argued that such projects were expensive vanity projects.

Improved infrastructure in rural areas

During his time in office, Evo Morales focused on improving infrastructure in rural areas. Morales' government invested in building roads, as well as bringing running water and electricity to areas that previously lacked them. In particular, Morales' administration focused on improving infrastructure in rural, impoverished, and indigenous communities.

Morales' government oversaw the construction of approximately 4,500 educational facilities, funded by the nationalised hydrocarbon industry and the commodities boom. This was part of a broader focus on improving education in Bolivia, with Morales' government making huge changes to the education system, bringing many more people into full-time education.

Morales' government also invested in other infrastructure projects, such as community spaces like soccer fields and union buildings.

Reduced Bolivia's dependence on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund

Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, reduced the country's dependence on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) by refusing their financial aid and connected regulations. Morales' government broke free from the World Bank and IMF's domination, which had characterised previous regimes.

Morales' administration oversaw strong economic growth while following a policy termed "Evonomics", which sought to move from a liberal economic approach to a mixed economy. Bolivia's economy was largely based on the extraction of natural resources, with the nation having South America's second-largest reserves of natural gas. As per his election pledge, Morales took increasing state control of the hydrocarbon industry, reversing the previous profit distribution so that 82% of profits went to the state and 18% to the companies.

Morales' government refused to join the Free Trade Area of the Americas, deeming it a form of US imperialism. In May 2007, Bolivia became the world's first country to withdraw from the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, with Morales stating that the institution had consistently favoured multinational corporations in its judgements.

Morales' administration also refused financial aid from the World Bank and IMF, which had previously imposed austerity and privatisation on Bolivia, exploiting its people and resources. Morales' government instead invested in social spending, focusing on projects to combat illiteracy, poverty, and racial and gender discrimination.

Instituted a new constitution that established Bolivia as a plurinational state

Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, instituted a new constitution that established Bolivia as a plurinational state. This constitution was approved in a 2009 referendum with 61.4% of the vote. The new constitution enshrined every Bolivian's right to water, food, free healthcare, education, and housing. It also recognised the Andean earth deity Pachamama instead of the Roman Catholic Church and gave official status to 36 indigenous peoples and languages.

The new constitution was part of Morales' broader project of reversing 500 years of colonial rule in Bolivia. Morales' government was the first in Bolivia's history to be led by the indigenous majority. Morales' new constitution "refounded" Bolivia as a "plurinational" state, allowing self-rule for the nation's indigenous peoples.

Morales' new constitution was also part of his socialist project. Morales' government was committed to the implementation of left-wing policies, focusing on the legal protections and socioeconomic conditions of Bolivia's previously marginalised indigenous population. Morales' new constitution was preceded by a series of socialist reforms, including the nationalisation of Bolivia's oil and gas industries, the renegotiation of contracts with foreign energy companies, and the transfer of power and revenue from natural resources into the hands of the Bolivian government. Morales' government also oversaw strong economic growth, reducing Bolivia's dependence on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Increased investment in schools, hospitals, and infrastructure

Morales' supporters laud him as a champion of indigenous rights, anti-imperialism, and environmentalism. They also credit him with overseeing significant economic growth, poverty reduction, and increased investment in schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.

Morales' administration oversaw strong economic growth and reduced Bolivia's dependence on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Morales' first year in office ended with no fiscal deficit, the first time this had happened in Bolivia for 30 years. During the global financial crisis of 2007-08, Bolivia maintained some of the world's highest levels of economic growth.

Morales' government focused on rural infrastructure improvement, bringing roads, running water, and electricity to areas that lacked them. Starting in 2006, approximately 4,500 educational facilities were built with funds from the nationalized hydrocarbon industry and the commodities boom. Morales also established a cash transfer program called Bono Juancito Pinto, which gave $200 Bolivianos a year to young children to enroll in primary education and stay in school.

Morales' government also established a universal monthly pension program called Renta Dignidad for people 60 years or older, resulting in an annual income of about $2,400 Bolivianos. That same year, Morales' government established the Bono Juana Azurduy, which provided cash bonuses as an incentive for women to regularly visit health care facilities during pregnancy and the first two years after childbirth.

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