Category: Bolivia

Mauritania’s coup is a setback for democracy

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National Catholic Reporter, October 3, 2008 by Stephen Zunes and Hardy Merriman [source]
The overthrow in August of what arguably constituted the most democratic government in the Arab world marks a serious setback in Africa as well as the Middle East. There had been great expectations for Mauritania when the country had its first free elections in 2006. As one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world and, as with many other African countries, its boundaries and nationhood largely an artificial creation of European colonial powers, Mauritania fanned hopes that if democracy could take hold there, it could triumph anywhere.

U.S. Intervention in Bolivia

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Huffington Post Oct 23, 2008 | Updated May 25, 2011
By Stephen Zunes [source]
The alleged support by the United States of wealthy landowners, business leaders, and their organizations tied to the violent uprising in eastern Bolivia has led U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg’s expulsion from La Paz and the South American government’s demands that the United States stop backing the illegitimate rebellion. Goldberg had met with some of these right-wing oppositionist leaders just a week before the most recent outbreak of violence against the democratically elected government of Evo Morales, who won a recall referendum in August with over 67% of the popular vote.

The U.S., Bolivia, and Dependency

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Americas.org, October 30, 2007, by Stephen Zunes.
Also by America Latina en Movimiento, and Scoop New Zealand
[scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0711/S00220/ScoopNew.htm]
Much to the chagrin of the Bush administration, Bolivian president Evo Morales has been going to great lengths to separate his country from its economic dependence on the United States. His efforts to strengthen the Andean Community of Nations and the recent signing of a “People’s Trade Treaty” with Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba indicate the desire of Bolivia’s Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party government to stand up to Washington by strengthening working economic and political alliances other than direct U.S. influence…