Bolivia: The Restrained Revolution

A true revolution occurred in Bolivia in 1952, and its consequences continue to be strongly felt. The revo lution triggered such extreme measures as nationalization of the tin mines, agrarian reform, neutralization of the army, and universal franchise, but the leaders of the revolutionary Na tionalistic Revolutionary Movement are essentially moderates. The economic consequences of the revolution have been a seri ous inflation and declining productivity. The major accom plishment has been social—the integration of the majority of the population speaking indigenous languages into the social and political life of the nation. This resulted more from the self-assertion of that mass than from the actions of the revo lutionary government. The Nationalistic Revolutionary Move ment was early sympathetic to national socialism, but it was rejected by a popular revolt in 1946. Succeeding governments were unable to preserve order and the second accession of the Nationalistic Revolutionary Movement to power in 1952 was the alternative to anarchy. The Indian population organized syndicates independent of the government and forced enact ment of an agrarian reform. The government now has the allegiance of the Indians and miners, but its maintenance is made difficult by an economic stabilization plan. After eight years, Bolivia is still a democracy, but it requires assistance to continue to reject the apparent advantages of totalitarianism.