Countries of the World/COUNTRYS.BIN/dp/0040/00406.txt

Text File | 1991-06-24 | 12KB | 234 lines

$Unique_ID{COW00406}
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$Title{Bolivia
Front Matter}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Thomas E. Weil}
$Affiliation{HQ, Department of the Army}
$Subject{population
bolivia
government
country
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political
american
armed
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$Date{1974}
$Log{Figure 1.*0040601.scf
}
Country:     Bolivia
Book:        Bolivia, A Country Study
Author:      Thomas E. Weil
Affiliation: HQ, Department of the Army
Date:        1974

Front Matter

Authors:
Jan Knippers Black, Howard I. Blutstein, Hans J. Hoyer, Kathryn T. Johnson,
David S. McNorris

Foreword

     This volume is one of a series of handbooks prepared by Foreign Area
Studies (FAS) of The American University, designed to be useful to military
and other personnel who need a convenient compilation of basic facts about the
social, economic, political, and military institutions and practices of
various countries. The emphasis is on objective description of the nation's
present society and the kinds of possible or probable changes that might be
expected in the future. The handbook seeks to present as full and as balanced
an integrated exposition as limitations on space and research time permit. It
was compiled from information available in openly published material. An
extensive bibliography is provided to permit recourse to other published
sources for more detailed information. There has been no attempt to express
any specific point of view or to make policy recommendations. The contents of
the handbook represent the work of the authors and FAS and do not represent
the official view of the United States government.

     An effort has been made to make the handbook as comprehensive as
possible. It can be expected, however, that the material,interpretations and
conclusions are subject to modification in the light of new information and
developments. Such corrections, additions, and suggestions for factual,
interpretive, or other change as readers may have will be welcomed for use in
future revisions. Comments may be addressed to:

The Director
Foreign Area Studies
The American University
5010 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016

Preface

     Significant developments in political and economic conditions underline
the desirability of revising the Area Handbook for Bolivia published in 1963.
Of particular importance are the changes in government that took place between
1964 and 1971; the growing importance of petroleum and natural gas production;
the continuing efforts of the government to bring Indian elements into the
mainstream of national life; and the programs designed to improve the lot of
the masses.

     This book supersedes the area handbook researched and written by Edwin
E. Erickson, Susan G. Fortenbaugh, Bela C. Maday, Nathan S. Popkin, Suzanne
Teleki, and John O. Weaver under the cochairmanship of Lyman H. Legters and
Wendell Blanchard. It represents an effort to provide a compact and objective
exposition and analysis of the dominant social, political, and economic
characteristics of Bolivian society. It is designed to give readers both
within and outside the government an understanding of the dynamics of the
elements of the society and an insight into the needs, goals, and achievements
of the people. Consultants with firsthand knowledge of the country have
provided data not available in printed sources. The authors alone are
responsible for the final draft.

     Spanish words and phrases, used only when adequate English equivalents
are lacking, are defined at first appearance. If employed frequently, they are
listed in the glossary. Spanish is based on Appleton's New Cuyas Dictionary
(Fifth Edition). The spellings of place names used are those established by
the United States Board on Geographic Names. Unless otherwise stated, tons
used in production and commodity figures are metric tons.

Country Summary

     1. COUNTRY: Republic of Bolivia-Republica de Bolivia.

     2. SIZE, TOPOGRAPHY, AND CLIMATE: Area of about 424,000 miles makes
country fifth in size in South America. Dominant features of landform are
separate chains of Andes Mountains that flank heartland plateau with
elevations of 13,000 feet and more; on east, tropical lowlands make up two-
thirds or more of national territory; between high plateau and lowlands,
Andean valleys and basins constitute intermediate regions. Climate varies from
humid-tropical in lowlands to cold and semiarid on plateau. Rainfall increases
from west to east and from south to north, with considerable seasonal and
year-to-year variations; floods and droughts are both common.

     3. POPULATION: Estimated at slightly over 5 million in early 1970s, but
no complete census results since 1950. Limited information available indicates
rates of population growth and of urbanization increased during 1950s and
1960s but remained below average for Latin American countries. With 70 percent
of population still living in countryside during early 1970s the country
remained among the most rural and least densely populated in Latin America.

     4. ETHNIC GROUPS AND LANGUAGES: Indians form largest single ethnic
grouping, constituting an estimated 50 to 60 percent of the population in the
early 1970s. Of these, the Quechua and Aymara, both of the highlands,
constitute an overwhelming proportion and have retained their cultural and
linguistic heritages. As much as one-third of the population are mestizos-
those of mixed European and Indian ancestry. There is also a small percentage
of whites of European descent. Both mestizos and whites speak Spanish, the
official language of the country. Mestizos are usually bilingual in Spanish
and one Indian language; a large percentage of the Indian population is
monolingual in Quechua or Aymara, neither speaking nor understanding Spanish.

     5. RELIGION: Ninety percent of the Bolivians profess Roman Catholicism,
although the church itself holds little economic, social, or political power
as a national institution. Many nationalities and outlooks are represented in
its clergy. A historic scarcity of priests in the rural areas has encouraged
the development of a folk Catholicism among the Indians-a synthesis of
Christian and pre-Hispanic religious practices. Constitution guarantees
freedom of religion.

     6. EDUCATION: During 1960s number of students in primary schools
increased from 50 percent to 70 percent of children of primary-school age.
Although population primarily rural, over half of primary and nearly all of
secondary and higher school enrollments are urban. Fundamental changes in
school system in late 1960s and early 1970s included unification of previously
separate urban and rural primary-school programs and increasing number of
years in primary school.

     7. HEALTH: Medical personnel and facilities concentrated in major cities;
nearly half of population without ready access to medical care other than that
provided by generally effective preventive programs against endemic diseases
such as malaria and yellow fever. Continued reliance on traditional medical
practices limits demand for modern care, and supply of physicians exceeds
demand for them. High infant mortality rate and incidence of respiratory
ailments; diseases attributed in large measure to poor nutrition and
sanitation.

     8. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: Centralized republic in which nine political
subdivisions (departments) have limited autonomy. Departmental officials
appointed by central government. Constitution of 1967 provides for traditional
executive, legislative, and judicial branches, but national congress was
dissolved in 1969, and in 1973 government continued to rule by decree.
Government of General Hugo Banzer Suarez, who seized power in August 1971,
composed of coalition of two leading political parties and armed forces.

     9. INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: The country is a member of the Organization
of American States, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Latin American
Free Trade Association, the Andean Common Market, and the United Nations and
many of its spec