Coup
A Story of Violence and Resistance in Bolivia
Thomas Becker author Benjamin Dangl author Linda Farthing author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Haymarket Books
Published:30th Nov '21
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This insightful book, Coup, explores the events surrounding the 2019 coup in Bolivia and its significant impact on democracy and society.
The book Coup delves into the complex conditions that culminated in the 2019 coup in Bolivia, offering a comprehensive look at the historical and social factors at play. In just three weeks, the political landscape of Bolivia shifted dramatically, as the fourteen years of progressive reforms under Evo Morales came to an abrupt end. The protests against alleged electoral fraud were fueled by a coalition of urban middle classes, anti-indigenous groups, and conservative politicians, ultimately leading to Morales' resignation and the rise of a repressive transitional government.
The aftermath of the coup saw the establishment of a government led by Jeanine Áñez, which employed brutal tactics to suppress dissent. This included the use of lethal force against protestors, the closure of critical media outlets, and the targeting of members of Morales' political party, the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS). As the Áñez administration postponed elections multiple times, the struggle for democracy in Bolivia intensified, highlighting the resilience of the MAS and its supporters.
Coup not only recounts these pivotal events but also weaves in personal narratives from a diverse array of voices, including activists, survivors of state violence, and intellectuals. By examining the dynamics of power and resistance, the book provides a nuanced understanding of Bolivia's political turmoil and the eventual return to democracy in 2020, when the MAS regained power with a significant electoral victory.
"This book makes a vital contribution to the struggles of the peoples of the Americas to defend themselves against the coup d’etats that anti-democratic elites of the hemisphere have unleashed again, albeit cloaked in new garments. Paraguay in 2012, Brazil in 2016 and 2018, Bolivia in 2019 all suffered coups, with intensifying violence, revealing that slaveholding, racist, and colonial legacies are still very much alive among the wealthiest in the region. The victory of Bolivia's popular movements—courageous, heroic and swift—resulting in the extraordinary victory of Lucho Arce and the return of Evo Morales’ MAS party in 2020, serve as an inspiring example for neighboring states. Once again the lesson is clear: whenever the will of the people may be expressed freely through the ballot, proposals that lead to greater equality, more just distribution of income and vigorous efforts to combat hunger and poverty will prevail. But this is possible only with robust popular participation in the decision-making process." —Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former-President of Brazil
"Farthing and Becker have presented a critical and cogent analysis of Bolivia’s ongoing experience with progressive rule as well as lessons that are applicable to other governments with similar ideological orientations in Latin America and beyond." —Socialism and Democracy
"Coup tells the story of Bolivia’s MAS Party, the ousting of its popular indigenous president Evo Morales and the following wave of abuses committed by the authoritarian Áñez regime. The book is a vital contribution to our understanding of how reactionary forces leveraged a bogus claim of fraud to overthrow the elected president. It is essential reading for those committed to democracy and social justice in the Americas. Coup highlights the need to remain on alert in electoral times and serves as a warning about the cunning preparation of coups d'états. Today’s coups are more sophisticated than those of previous decades, but they are equally ruthless and equally dangerous." —Madres de la Plaza de Mayo—Linea Fundadora, mothers of Argentina's disappeared
“Coup is a comprehensive account of the democratic disruption that Bolivia suffered in 2019. With remarkable handling of sources, Linda Farthing and Thomas Becker present a critical vision of Bolivia as well as the political, social and democratic challenges the country faces. Captivating read!" —Eduardo Rodriguez Veltzé, former-President of Bolivia
“Future historians will look back at the reversal of Bolivia's 2019 coup as an event equal in importance to Fidel Castro's defeat of the U.S.-organized invasion at the Bay of Pigs. Linda Farthing and Thomas Becker have provided us with an indispensable analysis to the sources of the conflict and how the forces of hope triumphed." —Greg Grandin, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America
“Measured and methodical, Farthing and Becker’s analysis of the right-wing coup d’état in Bolivia is mandatory reading for anyone attempting to come to grips with the country’s recent past. Sharp, expeditious prose mirror the often-frenetic pace of political developments in recent years. Rooted in a blend of on-the-ground reportage and a mastery of the best local sources of journalism and social-scientific inquiry, Coup: A Story of Violence and Resistance in Bolivia, contextualizes the socio-political gains and contradictions of the era of Evo Morales, unearths the root causes of his ouster from office, and surveys the violent regime of Jeanine Áñez installed in the coup’s aftermath. In a period of recurring crises of global capitalism and an attendant rise in authoritarian forms of right-wing rule, the significance of this book extends well beyond the borders of Bolivia.” —Jeffery R. Webber, author of Red October: Left-Indigenous Struggles in Modern Bolivia
ISBN: 9781642595871
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
250 pages