Introduction

This chapter will explore the pathway to human trafficking identified in Chapter 2 using the case of Bolivia. This pathway indicated the importance of high globalization, high income and gender inequality, high corruption, and a lack of high economic dominance. That is, when these conditions combine, a unique pathway for human trafficking is created. The chapter begins by giving some background on the social and economic history of Bolivia, before exploring how high globalization emerged. The consequences of this in terms of inequality and corruption are investigated. The lack of economic dominance is teased out through the idea of neoliberal accommodation and the unique pushbacks against such economic policies that have occurred in Bolivia. The chapter concludes by summarizing how these conditions have come together to create an environment for human trafficking.

Bolivia

A brief history

Located in the middle of South America, Bolivia is landlocked and shares borders with Peru, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. Known as Upper Peru while under Spanish colonial rule, the state of Bolivia declared independence in 1825 following a 15-year war (Morales, 2010). Following several successful initial presidencies, Bolivia was characterized by a succession of caudillos, or ‘corrupt military strongmen’ who ruled the country (Morales, 2010). The War of the Pacific, which lasted from 1879 to 1884 over disputed coastal territory in Bolivia, established a civilian ruling class made up of tinmining and land elites. In 1935, the loss of disputed territory to Paraguay following the Chaco War sparked radicalism and reform among Bolivians (Morales, 2010).

From the end of the Chaco War in 1935 until the Bolivian National Revolution in 1952, competing ideologies and new parties emerged. Many reformers focused on decreasing the control private economic interests had over the state (Morales, 2010). Under new rule, a new constitution introduced a central economy that was state-managed in 1938 (Morales, 2010). Soon after this, conservative parties regained control, but they now had to contend with parties such as the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR) and Falange Socialista Boliviana (FSB) (Morales, 2010; Klein, 2011). These parties would go on to become key players leading to the Bolivian National Revolution. Specifically, the success of the MNR party led to the installation of a government in which there were sweeping changes, including extensive land reform, the introduction of voting rights, and the nationalization of mines (Morales, 2010).