Bolivia †Privatization or Nationalization? Essay -- Economics Politi

Bolivia – Privatization or Nationalization? Bolivia was once a rich and prosperous country but is now one of the poorest nations in the world. The economy of Bolivia used to be rich in agriculture and mining but now searches to find something prosperous again. Privatization of certain companies has started in the country but was expelled when mass protests began. The companies’ prices are too high and the people used their culture and history to get rid of them. The Cochabamba protests of 2000 and the Bolivian gas referendum of 2004 are a couple of examples that show the power the people of Bolivia have over their own government. The History of Bolivia Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America. It borders many countries including Chile, Peru, Argentina, and Brazil. Bolivia is part of the Andean region and has been inhabited for almost 20,000 years. The Tiwanakan people inhabited the area until about 1200 A.D. In which the Incas to over and ruled the area until the Spanish conquest showed its power throughout all of South America. Both cultures have greatly influenced the life of a Bolivian citizen. The Spanish held their power of Bolivia until it claimed its independence in 1809. Bolivia went to war with Spain for many years and final won on August 6, 1825. Bolivia, although independent, could never regain its steps. The governments from here on out were all very weak and only hurt the country as a whole. Many countries saw this weakness including Chile who went to war with Bolivia in the War of the Pacific (1879-1883). Up until this point Chile had a coast but the loss of this war also was the loss of the coastl ine and Bolivia then became a landlocked country. After this Bolivia found its... ... government which intern will make the right decisions for the country of Bolivia. These will only be a stepping stone in helping Bolivia reform its economy and reinstate them as a wealthy nation. Works Cited 1. Answers.com. â€Å"Bolivian Gas War.† http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery? method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Bolivian+Gas+War&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1 2. Bolivia Web. â€Å"Cochabamba.† http://www.boliviaweb.com/cities/cbba.htm 3. Explainthatinfo.com. â€Å"Cochabamba protest of 2000.† http://www.explainthat.info/co/cochabamba-protests-of-2000.html 4. Infosearchpoint.com. â€Å"Privatization.† http://www.infosearchpoint.com/display/Privatization 5. Watkins, Thayer. â€Å"San Jose State University Economics Department.† http://www2.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/bolivia.htm 6. World66. â€Å"History.† http://www.world66.com/southamerica/bolivia/history