Exploring Bolivia's Third-World Status: A Country's Story

Bolivia is a country in South America that has historically been considered a Third World country. The term Third World was originally used during the Cold War to describe countries that were not aligned with either the Western NATO bloc or the Eastern Communist bloc. Bolivia pursued a non-aligned foreign policy and maintained relations with various communist nations. Today, the term Third World is often used to refer to economically poor and developing countries, and Bolivia remains one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. However, the term Third World is now considered controversial and outdated, as it is seen as a derogatory label for developing and poor countries.

Bolivia's foreign policy strategy

Bolivia pursues a foreign policy with a heavy economic component, and the country has become more active in the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Rio Group, and MERCOSUR. Bolivia promotes its policies on sustainable development and the empowerment of indigenous people.

Bolivia has an extensive network of diplomatic relations with countries across the world, including Argentina, Brazil, China, Cuba, India, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The election of Evo Morales as president strained relations with the US, as Morales rose to power as the head of a trade union of coca growers, and his policies conflicted with the US's eradication policy.

Bolivia is the third-largest producer of cocaine in the world, and the third-largest cultivator of coca, which has impacted its international relations. Bolivia's relations with neighbouring countries are also influenced by its desire for a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean, which was lost to Chile in 1884.

Bolivia's economic situation

Historical Context

Historically, Bolivia was labelled a ""Third World" country, a term coined by French historian Alfred Sauvy in 1952. This term referred to nations that did not align with either the NATO countries (First World) or the Communist Bloc (Second World) during the Cold War. Bolivia pursued a non-aligned foreign policy and maintained relations with various communist nations, including Cuba and China.

Current Economic Landscape

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. However, it has taken significant steps towards improving its economic situation, especially under the leadership of President Evo Morales. Morales, an avid socialist, has nationalized natural resources such as gas, telephone, and electrical companies, redistributing the proceeds to poor, indigenous Bolivians. These policies have led to confrontations with wealthy landowners, particularly in the resource-rich Media Luna region in eastern Bolivia.

Economic Challenges

Bolivia faces several economic challenges, including poverty, income inequality, and a large informal economy. To address these issues, the Bolivian government has implemented policies such as nationalizing the pension system and extending coverage to poor Bolivians working in the informal sector. Additionally, Bolivia has a history of populist regimes, which have often been associated with neutrality in foreign affairs. This has had an impact on the country's economic trajectory.

International Relations

Bolivia's foreign policy has evolved over time. In the early 1980s, under the "independent neutrality" strategy, Bolivia maintained diplomatic relations with all nations, regardless of political ideology. This approach reflected the country's non-aligned stance and deep roots in Bolivian history. However, critics argue that Bolivia's foreign policy has become increasingly tied to the interests of the United States, affecting its relations with other Latin American democracies.

Recent Developments

Bolivia has continued to foster relations with the Non-Aligned Movement, although not as closely as during the Siles Zuazo administration. According to official records, Bolivia established relations with seventeen Non-Aligned Movement nations, including Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Vietnam. Additionally, Bolivia occupied the vice presidency of the movement's Ministerial Conference in 1986 and actively participated in its organization.

Bolivia's political ideology

Historically, Bolivia's political landscape was dominated by the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, the Revolutionary Left Movement, and Nationalist Democratic Action. However, the governing party since 2006 has been the Movement for Socialism (MAS), a left-wing, socialist party committed to equality, indigenous rights, agrarian land reform, constitutional reform, and nationalization of key industries. MAS enjoys near-unanimous support among the poor, rural, and indigenous populations.

Bolivia's political system is characterized by a strong executive branch, with the president directly elected to a five-year term by popular vote. The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Plurinational Legislative Assembly, comprising the Chamber of Senators (36 seats) and the Chamber of Deputies (130 seats). The judiciary is independent, with the Supreme Court of Justice being the highest court in the land.

The country's political history has been shaped by the Bolivian Civil War between the Conservatives and Liberals, which ended in 1899 with the latter's victory, ushering in a liberal era that lasted until 1920. This period saw the development of a system of public education and moderate anticlericalism, with Catholicism losing its status as the state-recognized religion in 1906.

In the 20th century, the emergence of popular revolutionary nationalism as an ideological force in Bolivia led to significant transformations. Intellectuals and writers such as Augusto Céspedes and Carlos Montenegro played a pivotal role in shaping this ideology, which drew inspiration from Marxism and Latin American nationalism. The Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR) became the political expression of this ideology, advocating for national sovereignty, land reform, and the empowerment of previously marginalized social classes.

Bolivia's healthcare system

Bolivia has historically struggled with high levels of poverty, which has made providing quality healthcare to those in need challenging. However, in recent years, the country has made notable progress in improving its healthcare system, resulting in a decrease in extreme poverty, child mortality, and the prevalence of diseases.

In 2019, then-president Evo Morales implemented the Unified Health System, a free healthcare initiative that aimed to cover approximately 6 million uninsured individuals out of Bolivia's 11 million citizens. This system provides access to essential medical services such as doctor visits and medication, as well as treatment for various illnesses, including Parkinson's, child cancer, and diabetes. The Unified Health System demonstrated immediate success, with over 35,000 patients receiving treatment within the first five days of its implementation. This built upon the success of the 2013 "My Health" program, which granted free healthcare access to the most vulnerable citizens.

To facilitate citizens' access to healthcare, the government developed an instructional app. This app assists individuals in locating healthcare centers and understanding what treatments are covered under the Unified Health System. Additionally, the government constructed 2,710 clinics to enhance healthcare accessibility, benefiting an estimated 25% of the most vulnerable population.

Despite these advancements, Bolivia's healthcare system continues to face challenges. The rural areas of the country are disproportionately affected by poverty and have fewer health clinics readily accessible. Moreover, the government has faced criticism for not allocating sufficient funds to sustain and achieve its healthcare goals. Doctors have emphasized the need for a larger budget to ensure adequate supplies and facilities to meet the healthcare needs of the Bolivian population.

To address these challenges, various organizations have stepped forward to support Bolivia's healthcare system. NGOs such as Global Links have provided essential materials and support to underserved rural areas, including significant assistance to people with disabilities. Mano a Mano, a nonprofit dedicated to serving Bolivia, ships excess medical supplies from Minnesota to bolster existing healthcare clinics in the country. Additionally, the introduction of mobile healthcare centers has helped reach patients in remote areas, increasing the number of patients served by more than 50%.

Bolivia's education system

Following independence, several decrees were passed to make primary-level learning and attendance compulsory, but these were largely ineffective. In the early 1900s, a teaching mission from Belgium established a foundation for rural primary education, and in 1931, Elizardo Perez founded a large nuclear school (a central school with five to eight grades) near Lake Titicaca. This became the prototype for rural education in the Andes, and today, rural schools are still called "núcleos".

In 1947, the Bolivian government passed a literacy law requiring every literate citizen to teach at least one illiterate person to read and write. However, the government's limited capacity for action in this area was exposed, and by the eve of the 1952 Revolution, less than one-third of the adult population was literate.

In 1956, legislation was passed that founded the public school system that still exists today. This established a six-year primary cycle, followed by four years of intermediate schooling and two years of secondary school. Further revisions in 1969 and 1973 instituted a five-year primary cycle, followed by three years of intermediate school and four years of secondary education. The first two years of secondary instruction consisted of an integrated program, while the second two-year cycle allowed students to specialize in the humanities or technical fields. All courses led to a baccalaureate degree, which was necessary to enter university.

Despite these reforms, serious problems persisted. While the number of secondary school students grew twice as fast as the relevant age group, and the university student population expanded even more rapidly, secondary education remained inaccessible to most Bolivians. Only 35% of eligible students attended secondary school, and significant disparities existed between male and female enrollment rates. Dropout rates were also extremely high, with only one-third of first graders completing the fifth grade, 20% starting secondary school, and just 1% receiving a university degree. Dropout rates were higher among girls and rural children, with around 40% of rural children continuing their education beyond the third grade.

In the late 1980s, Spanish was the language of instruction at every level, and the absence of bilingual education was blamed for the high dropout rates among rural schoolchildren.

In the present day, Bolivia devotes 23% of its annual budget to educational expenditures, a higher percentage than most other South American countries. However, the Bolivian public education system continues to face issues related to organization and quality. Many schools are not well-maintained, lack adequate furnishings or classroom materials, and teacher strikes are common. As a result, foreigners moving to Bolivia tend to opt for private schools. Nevertheless, improvements are ongoing, and the government has implemented a comprehensive education reform program that includes decentralizing educational funding, improving teacher training and curricula, and formalizing and expanding intercultural bilingual education.

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