A Concise History of Bolivia

Rating:
Summary: Valuable to any traveler to Bolivia
Review: A Concise Short History of Bolivia by Herbert Klein 2003

I read Herbert Klein as I traveled, through Bolivia. The first five chapters (Pre-Columbian through the Creation of a Nation State 1841) enriched my visits to Sucre, Potosi, Oruro, and La Paz. Though the text is not intended for the average tourist, it is valuable to any traveler who has more than a passing curosity about this unusual, provocative country.

Herbert Klein is Profossor of Lain American History at Columbia and his writting style reflects this. "A Concise Short History of Bolivia" reads like a college text book, jammed with dates, famous and obsure names, events and the obicucious commentary. It is evident that Klien has a sharp grasp of Bolivian politics and ecomnomics, and his comments bring light to the the plight and oppression that the people of Bolivia have endure. No where in South America have the poor been as exploited as they have in Bolivia.

The leaders of Bolivia have consistantly placed the hopes for an economic renewal in Bolivia on one major export (first silver, then tin, now gas). They have not learned from history. They exploit one non-renewable resource, and spend the money (that doesn't first go into the pockets of corrupt politians and their cornies) on bigger government building, a larger militiary (Bolivia, a land locked nation still supports a Navy) and squander the people's future. Herbert Klein clearly show how history documented this. Saddly, it is happening again today with the newly found reserves of LPG.

After visiting Potosi and its infamious mines of 'Cerro Rico', a huge cone shaped mountain where over 300 mines exist to extract silver, I was perplexed to find that Klein does mention that over 8 million, million! men have suffered and died mining this mountain since 1545 when the silver was discovered. , Klein glosses over this fact, and he chose not to elucidate how the Spanish Crown was responsible for the genenocide of the indigious poplulation. There is no commentary censuring this devestation, Klien is strikingly silent. I sensed in reading this history text that Klein did not want to rock any boats, and instead choose a text that would be "acceptable" for any college class (including those in Spain)... via the status quo!

That said, the text is strongly recommended for any student of South American history, Bolivia and those that may be planning more than a few days in this wonderfully obscure country.