By Daniel Nardini

Six months into his presidency, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz is facing a revolt in his own country by a growing array of sectors of society. Many poor people in the country’s capital La Paz have been demonstrating against the government, and protesters have been involved in pitch battles with riot police. Many of Bolivia’s indigenous peoples are also holding widespread protests in major cities, and union workers are protesting against the government’s policies. The four main issues that President Paz is facing are rising food prices, medicine shortages, the higher costs of utility services, and the curtailment of many social programs for the poor and indigenous peoples. All of this has created the perfect storm.

All of this is happening right now because since Paz was elected, he had introduced reforms that have caused prices for food and utilities to spike, and also instituted land reforms that have upset the indigenous peoples who feel their lands are being taken away. President Paz has accused former Bolivian President Evo Morales of fomenting the unrest. This may be true, but the problems Bolivia is having are in part the work of the current president as well as past administration including Morales’ term as president. These problems have come to a head due to the energy shortages because of the Iran War. Bolivia is among the many countries being affected like many others in the Americas and around the world. President Paz has tried to reason with the people in order to try and defuse the situation.

He has promised more representation for the indigenous peoples as well as trying to work for some relief for the poor and union workers who are feeling the rise in food prices the most. But he also made it clear that he will not tolerate anarchy, and he has threatened to call out the army to stop the country from sliding into civil war. Corruption, mismanagement, and the misrule by the previous Morales’ administration has caused so many of the problems happening in Bolivia today. Bolivia’s economy is heading for disaster. The biggest concern is if the country itself will collapse and become a failed nation state. That is a truly scary prospect. This has for all due purposes happened in Venezuela, and maybe it could happen in Bolivia. At this time the situation is dire. The terrifying thing is that it is mirroring a world that is falling into chaos and possibly famine due to the Iran War.