Monday, September 24, 2007
Week 4: Everyone Posts Comments to This Thread (by Sunday 9/30)
See instructions and format at the beginning of the first week's thread.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Week 2: Everyone Posts Comments to This Thread (by Sunday 9/16)
Mark Whitaker
"After the 'indigenous party' takes power in Bolivia, capital move planned"
This capital move is interesting given what I have written about Bolivia before--at this link--about the 'first indigenous government' in 500 years in Latin America, the dynamics that led to the indigenous Bolivian President, the historic ostracizing from public spaces well into the 20th century for them, as well as now their attempt to reconstruct the state on more locally autonomous zones. You might find that link an insight into the dynamics of one area of South America.
And for those interested in soccer, and its 'weak links' for uniting many different people (a social movements term in Sociology) President Evo Morales' was a keen soccer organizer his whole life before he became more openly political. Soccer seemed to be crucial to the social capital and networks that allowed him to make weak links with a huge amount of people in Bolivia--and then this went political. For more on the soccer angle, see the active link below. [Researchable Question/Paper suggestion: Perhaps the same could be said for other Argentinian or Latin American political leadership? "The Politics of Soccer?" To what extent has soccer been mobilized both to create apolitical ambivalence and 'fellow feeling' in Latin American states (an elite interest), as well as sometimes highly political movements (like the kind that is linked to Evo Morales)? Not that soccer is the only issue: only that those with economic and "anti-Drug War" grievances looked to him as their candidate. He happened to be positioned as the soccer organizer in the union from the start of his political career--and that made him well known among many groups.]
-----------------------
“Capital War” in Bolivia
In July 2007, more than one million people marched in La Paz, Bolivia [picture here--the city is in a flat windblown area in a caldera which makes its urban form inverted: typically you might find slums in the middle of the city and tall buildings on the outskirts--though note the slums on the sides of the caldera--closer to the less desired windblown sand racing across the plain 'outside' the city], Bolivia to oppose a proposal to move the capital city from La Paz to Sucre. Five days later, tens of thousands of people gathered in Sucre to rally for the change.
The switch would be highly beneficial for Sucre, a city of 250,000 residents that lacks a major airport and other key infrastructure. Proponents of the move believe that because Sucre is near the country’s geographic centre, the city is better positioned to promote unity. Yet many Bolivians view the proposal as a scheme of the lowland provinces to take control of the country. Critics are concerned that changing capitals would cost billions of dollars and would only benefit the more affluent population in eastern Bolivia. The Bolivian judiciary is located in Sucre, but the larger legislative and executive branches of government are based in La Paz. The two cities have sustained a rivalry since 1898, when the administrative capital was moved from Sucre to La Paz.
---
http://www.focal.ca/pdf/focalpoint_sep_2007.pdf
[The other link:
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
The Columbus Interim: 500 Years Later, the First Indigenous Government Attempts to Reinvent the State; Bolivia & Pres. Evo Morales' Ormolu Chairs
http://biostate.blogspot.com/2006/04/columbus-interim-500-years-later-first.html
Two quotes for contrast:
For a man who rose to prominence as a union leader [and their soccer organizer], and to office on the back of [indigenous] social movements with mainly economic grievances, economic policy has hardly figured in the first 60 days. Instead, he has used the parliamentary majority that came with his 54% landslide to push through a law convoking a Constituent Assembly, and allowing regional referendums on autonomy.
"In last year's election we only captured government - with the Constituent Assembly we want to capture political power."
Meanwhile:
President Bush came into office declaring that Latin America was a priority. That's hardly surprising. It's been a priority for every American president since James Monroe in 1823 whose "Monroe Doctrine" told European nations to keep out of Latin American affairs. In pursuit of American interests, the US has overthrown or undermined around 40 Latin American governments in the 20th Century.
A bit on his soccer background:
Juan Evo Morales Ayma
Evo Morales
80th President of Bolivia
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 22, 2006
Born October 26, 1959 (1959-10-26) (age 47)
Isallavi, Orinoca, Oruro
Nationality Bolivian
Political party Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS)
Spouse single
Juan Evo Morales Ayma (born October 26, 1959 in Orinoca, Oruro), popularly known as Evo (IPA: [ˈeβ̞o]), is the President of Bolivia, and has been declared the country's first indigenous head of state since the Spanish Conquest over 470 years ago.[1][2][3][4] This claim has created controversy,[5] however, due to the number of mestizo presidents who came before him.[6]
Morales is the leader of Bolivia's cocalero movement – a loose federation of coca leaf-growing campesinos who are resisting the efforts of the United States government to eradicate coca in the province of Chapare in southeastern Bolivia. Morales is also leader of the Movement for Socialism political party (Movimiento al Socialismo, with the Spanish acronym MAS, meaning "more"), which was involved in the recent Gas Wars, along with many other groups, commonly referred to as 'social movements'.
From Soccer to Presidency:
Like many Bolivians[8][9][10], his parents, while Catholic, worshipped the native earth goddess Pachamama, often with offerings of coca leaves and alcohol.[7] At the age of 12, he accompanied his father in herding llamas from Oruro to the province of Independencia in Cochabamba.[7]
When he was 14, Morales showed his organizational skills by forming a football soccer] team with other youths; he continued herding llamas to pay the bills.[11] At the age of 16, the three ayllus (network of families) within the community elected him technical director of selection for the canton's team.[11] That same year, in order to attend high school, he moved to Oruro. There he worked as a bricklayer, a baker, and a trumpet player for the Royal Imperial Band (which allowed him to travel across Bolivia).[11][1][12] Because of a lack of money, he dropped out of high school in the 11th grade and fulfilled his mandatory military service in La Paz.[11][13]
...
In 1981, he was made the head of his local [union's] soccer organization; after his father's death in 1983, he was forced to give up that position in order to concentrate on managing his family's farm.[14]
Union activity
By 1985 Morales was elected general secretary in his union of coca farmers and by 1988 was elected executive secretary of the Tropics Federation.[14] Around this time the Bolivian government encouraged by the USA began a program to eradicate most coca production (see below). By 1996 Morales was made president of the Coordinating Committee of the Six Federations of the Tropics of Cochabamba.[14] Evo was among those opposing the governments position on coca and lobbied for a different policy. This opposition often resulted in him being jailed and in an incident in 1989, beaten near to death by UMOPAR forces (who, assuming he had been slain, dumped his unconscious body in the bushes where it was discovered by his supporters).[14]
Morales soon led a 600 kilometer march from Cochabamba to the capital of La Paz.
While they were often attacked by law enforcement, they managed to proceed by sneaking around their control posts.[14] They were often greeted by supporters who gave the marchers drink, food, clothes and shoes.
They were greeted with cheers by the citizens of La Paz and the government was forced to negotiate an accord with them.[14]
After the marchers returned home, the government reneged on the deal and sent forces to harass them.[14] Morales claims that during this time in 1997 a United States Drug Enforcement Agency helicopter strafed farmers with automatic rifle fire killing five of his supporters.[14] He also claims he was grazed by assassins' bullets in Villa Tunari in 2000.[14] His actions gained international attention, and while some claim he was nominated as a 'Drugs Pacifist' for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995, this cannot be determined because Nobel nominations are secret. He was recognized in 1996 by an international coalition against the “War on Drugs”.[14]
Morales then found an audience in Europe for his positions and traveled there to gain support and to educate people on the differences between coca leaves and cocaine.[14]
In a speech on this issue, he told reporters “I am not a drug trafficker. I am a coca grower. I cultivate coca leaf, which is a natural product. I do not refine (it into) cocaine, and neither cocaine nor drugs have ever been part of the Andean culture.”[1]
1995 election, formation of MAS
On March 27th, 1995, Morales was among a united organization of farmers, colonizers and indigenous people who founded the Assembly for the Sovereignty of the Common People (ASP) and the Political Tool for the Sovereignty of the Common People (IPSP). [15] Morales and others decided to run for political office in Bolivia under this party. Since the National Electoral Court did not recognize the new organization they were forced to run under the banner of the United Left (IU), “a coalition of leftist parties that was headed by the Communist Party of Bolivia (PCB).”[15]
On June 1st, 1997, Morales (who carried 70% of the votes) was one of four IU candidates that won a seat in Parliament.
The area he represented included the provinces of Chapare and Carrasco and Morales received the most votes of any candidate in Bolivia.[15]
Facing continual legal problems because the Bolivian Supreme Court continued to refuse to recognize IPSP, [13] for the local elections of December 5th, 1999 Morales came to an agreement with the leader of MAS-U, David Añez Pedraza, to assume the acronym, name and colors of that inactive organization.
So the IPSP became the Movimiento al Socialismo or Movement Towards Socialism (MAS).[15] The MAS is described as "an indigenous-based political party that calls for the nationalization of industry, legalization of the coca leaf...and fairer distribution of national resources."[16]
---
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evo_Morales
"After the 'indigenous party' takes power in Bolivia, capital move planned"
This capital move is interesting given what I have written about Bolivia before--at this link--about the 'first indigenous government' in 500 years in Latin America, the dynamics that led to the indigenous Bolivian President, the historic ostracizing from public spaces well into the 20th century for them, as well as now their attempt to reconstruct the state on more locally autonomous zones. You might find that link an insight into the dynamics of one area of South America.
And for those interested in soccer, and its 'weak links' for uniting many different people (a social movements term in Sociology) President Evo Morales' was a keen soccer organizer his whole life before he became more openly political. Soccer seemed to be crucial to the social capital and networks that allowed him to make weak links with a huge amount of people in Bolivia--and then this went political. For more on the soccer angle, see the active link below. [Researchable Question/Paper suggestion: Perhaps the same could be said for other Argentinian or Latin American political leadership? "The Politics of Soccer?" To what extent has soccer been mobilized both to create apolitical ambivalence and 'fellow feeling' in Latin American states (an elite interest), as well as sometimes highly political movements (like the kind that is linked to Evo Morales)? Not that soccer is the only issue: only that those with economic and "anti-Drug War" grievances looked to him as their candidate. He happened to be positioned as the soccer organizer in the union from the start of his political career--and that made him well known among many groups.]
-----------------------
“Capital War” in Bolivia
In July 2007, more than one million people marched in La Paz, Bolivia [picture here--the city is in a flat windblown area in a caldera which makes its urban form inverted: typically you might find slums in the middle of the city and tall buildings on the outskirts--though note the slums on the sides of the caldera--closer to the less desired windblown sand racing across the plain 'outside' the city], Bolivia to oppose a proposal to move the capital city from La Paz to Sucre. Five days later, tens of thousands of people gathered in Sucre to rally for the change.
The switch would be highly beneficial for Sucre, a city of 250,000 residents that lacks a major airport and other key infrastructure. Proponents of the move believe that because Sucre is near the country’s geographic centre, the city is better positioned to promote unity. Yet many Bolivians view the proposal as a scheme of the lowland provinces to take control of the country. Critics are concerned that changing capitals would cost billions of dollars and would only benefit the more affluent population in eastern Bolivia. The Bolivian judiciary is located in Sucre, but the larger legislative and executive branches of government are based in La Paz. The two cities have sustained a rivalry since 1898, when the administrative capital was moved from Sucre to La Paz.
---
http://www.focal.ca/pdf/focalpoint_sep_2007.pdf
[The other link:
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
The Columbus Interim: 500 Years Later, the First Indigenous Government Attempts to Reinvent the State; Bolivia & Pres. Evo Morales' Ormolu Chairs
http://biostate.blogspot.com/2006/04/columbus-interim-500-years-later-first.html
Two quotes for contrast:
For a man who rose to prominence as a union leader [and their soccer organizer], and to office on the back of [indigenous] social movements with mainly economic grievances, economic policy has hardly figured in the first 60 days. Instead, he has used the parliamentary majority that came with his 54% landslide to push through a law convoking a Constituent Assembly, and allowing regional referendums on autonomy.
"In last year's election we only captured government - with the Constituent Assembly we want to capture political power."
Meanwhile:
President Bush came into office declaring that Latin America was a priority. That's hardly surprising. It's been a priority for every American president since James Monroe in 1823 whose "Monroe Doctrine" told European nations to keep out of Latin American affairs. In pursuit of American interests, the US has overthrown or undermined around 40 Latin American governments in the 20th Century.
A bit on his soccer background:
Juan Evo Morales Ayma
Evo Morales
80th President of Bolivia
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 22, 2006
Born October 26, 1959 (1959-10-26) (age 47)
Isallavi, Orinoca, Oruro
Nationality Bolivian
Political party Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS)
Spouse single
Juan Evo Morales Ayma (born October 26, 1959 in Orinoca, Oruro), popularly known as Evo (IPA: [ˈeβ̞o]), is the President of Bolivia, and has been declared the country's first indigenous head of state since the Spanish Conquest over 470 years ago.[1][2][3][4] This claim has created controversy,[5] however, due to the number of mestizo presidents who came before him.[6]
Morales is the leader of Bolivia's cocalero movement – a loose federation of coca leaf-growing campesinos who are resisting the efforts of the United States government to eradicate coca in the province of Chapare in southeastern Bolivia. Morales is also leader of the Movement for Socialism political party (Movimiento al Socialismo, with the Spanish acronym MAS, meaning "more"), which was involved in the recent Gas Wars, along with many other groups, commonly referred to as 'social movements'.
From Soccer to Presidency:
Like many Bolivians[8][9][10], his parents, while Catholic, worshipped the native earth goddess Pachamama, often with offerings of coca leaves and alcohol.[7] At the age of 12, he accompanied his father in herding llamas from Oruro to the province of Independencia in Cochabamba.[7]
When he was 14, Morales showed his organizational skills by forming a football soccer] team with other youths; he continued herding llamas to pay the bills.[11] At the age of 16, the three ayllus (network of families) within the community elected him technical director of selection for the canton's team.[11] That same year, in order to attend high school, he moved to Oruro. There he worked as a bricklayer, a baker, and a trumpet player for the Royal Imperial Band (which allowed him to travel across Bolivia).[11][1][12] Because of a lack of money, he dropped out of high school in the 11th grade and fulfilled his mandatory military service in La Paz.[11][13]
...
In 1981, he was made the head of his local [union's] soccer organization; after his father's death in 1983, he was forced to give up that position in order to concentrate on managing his family's farm.[14]
Union activity
By 1985 Morales was elected general secretary in his union of coca farmers and by 1988 was elected executive secretary of the Tropics Federation.[14] Around this time the Bolivian government encouraged by the USA began a program to eradicate most coca production (see below). By 1996 Morales was made president of the Coordinating Committee of the Six Federations of the Tropics of Cochabamba.[14] Evo was among those opposing the governments position on coca and lobbied for a different policy. This opposition often resulted in him being jailed and in an incident in 1989, beaten near to death by UMOPAR forces (who, assuming he had been slain, dumped his unconscious body in the bushes where it was discovered by his supporters).[14]
Morales soon led a 600 kilometer march from Cochabamba to the capital of La Paz.
While they were often attacked by law enforcement, they managed to proceed by sneaking around their control posts.[14] They were often greeted by supporters who gave the marchers drink, food, clothes and shoes.
They were greeted with cheers by the citizens of La Paz and the government was forced to negotiate an accord with them.[14]
After the marchers returned home, the government reneged on the deal and sent forces to harass them.[14] Morales claims that during this time in 1997 a United States Drug Enforcement Agency helicopter strafed farmers with automatic rifle fire killing five of his supporters.[14] He also claims he was grazed by assassins' bullets in Villa Tunari in 2000.[14] His actions gained international attention, and while some claim he was nominated as a 'Drugs Pacifist' for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995, this cannot be determined because Nobel nominations are secret. He was recognized in 1996 by an international coalition against the “War on Drugs”.[14]
Morales then found an audience in Europe for his positions and traveled there to gain support and to educate people on the differences between coca leaves and cocaine.[14]
In a speech on this issue, he told reporters “I am not a drug trafficker. I am a coca grower. I cultivate coca leaf, which is a natural product. I do not refine (it into) cocaine, and neither cocaine nor drugs have ever been part of the Andean culture.”[1]
1995 election, formation of MAS
On March 27th, 1995, Morales was among a united organization of farmers, colonizers and indigenous people who founded the Assembly for the Sovereignty of the Common People (ASP) and the Political Tool for the Sovereignty of the Common People (IPSP). [15] Morales and others decided to run for political office in Bolivia under this party. Since the National Electoral Court did not recognize the new organization they were forced to run under the banner of the United Left (IU), “a coalition of leftist parties that was headed by the Communist Party of Bolivia (PCB).”[15]
On June 1st, 1997, Morales (who carried 70% of the votes) was one of four IU candidates that won a seat in Parliament.
The area he represented included the provinces of Chapare and Carrasco and Morales received the most votes of any candidate in Bolivia.[15]
Facing continual legal problems because the Bolivian Supreme Court continued to refuse to recognize IPSP, [13] for the local elections of December 5th, 1999 Morales came to an agreement with the leader of MAS-U, David Añez Pedraza, to assume the acronym, name and colors of that inactive organization.
So the IPSP became the Movimiento al Socialismo or Movement Towards Socialism (MAS).[15] The MAS is described as "an indigenous-based political party that calls for the nationalization of industry, legalization of the coca leaf...and fairer distribution of national resources."[16]
---
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evo_Morales
Monday, September 3, 2007
Opening Thread: Post your Blog Entries as Comments to my Main Post Each Week
Post Comments like this:
1. Your Name
2. A Title
3. A short personal commentary what you learned from it or what made you curious about it given the week's class content. However, it doesn't have to be about the week's content, only something related to Latin America.
4. Then put a long line ('-------------------)'.
5. Then cut/paste the article or topic you found.
6. Then a small line '---'.
7. Then, finally, paste the URL (link) of the post.
Post for this week on this thread. I'll set up a new main post each week, and then we will do the same.
1. Your Name
2. A Title
3. A short personal commentary what you learned from it or what made you curious about it given the week's class content. However, it doesn't have to be about the week's content, only something related to Latin America.
4. Then put a long line ('-------------------)'.
5. Then cut/paste the article or topic you found.
6. Then a small line '---'.
7. Then, finally, paste the URL (link) of the post.
Post for this week on this thread. I'll set up a new main post each week, and then we will do the same.
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