Abstract
Evo Morales came to power in Bolivia after the gas war and a subsequent rebellion that overthrew two presidents in 2003 and 2005. However, the promised nationalization of hydrocarbons remained on paper, and a new extractivist offensive was launched that deepened processes of accumulation by dispossession. Plunder, environmental devastation, and recolonization of indigenous territories have increased because of different factors that are dialectically interrelated: (1) the 2006 oil contracts, which allowed transnationals to retain a dominant position in the sector; (2) the challenge of finding new gas reserves to maintain the current export volume; (3) the country’s substantial dependence on hydrocarbon revenues to maintain public expenditure levels, given that the productive matrix remains unchanged; and (4) the political degeneration of the Movimiento al Socialismo. However, there is no political and discursive coherence: the government conceals its policy behind a revolutionary discourse.
Evo Morales llegó al poder en Bolivia después de la guerra del gas y la subsiguiente rebelión que derrocó a dos presidentes en 2003 y 2005. Sin embargo, la prometida nacionalización de los hidrocarburos se mantuvo en el papel y se lanzó una nueva ofensiva extractivista que profundizó los procesos de acumulación por despojo. El saqueo, la devastación ambiental y la recolonización de los territorios indígenas han aumentado debido a diferentes factores que están dialécticamente interrelacionados: (1) los contratos petroleros de 2006, que permitieron a las transnacionales mantener una posición dominante en el sector; (2) el desafío de encontrar nuevas reservas de gas para mantener el volumen de exportación actual; (3) la dependencia sustancial del país en los ingresos por hidrocarburos para mantener los niveles de gasto público, dado que la matriz productiva permanece sin cambios; y (4) la degeneración política del Movimiento al Socialismo. Sin embargo, no hay coherencia política y discursiva: el gobierno oculta su política detrás de un discurso revolucionario.
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