A Concise History of Bolivia

A new edition of this economic, social and political history of Bolivia from pre-conquest times to the present day.

Herbert S. Klein (Author)

9781108844826, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 December 2021

352 pages
22.3 x 14.5 x 2.9 cm, 0.6 kg

‘For decades, this book has been one of the most important references about Bolivian history. This version extends the study until the tumultuous political events of October 2019 and 2020. The use of updated and diverse information, as well as the consistency of the analysis, assure that the preeminence of the book will endure.’ José Peres-Cajías, University of Barcelona

Bolivia is an unusually high-altitude country created by imperial conquest and native adaptions – today, it remains one of the most multi-ethnic societies in the world with one of the largest Amerindian populations in the Americas. It has seen the most social and economic mobility of Indian and mestizo populations in any country in Latin America. This work, having also appeared in Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese in its earlier editions, has become the standard survey of the history of Bolivia. In this new edition, Klein explores the changes that occurred in the past two decades under the leadership of Evo Morales and his indigenous government, and how his party has emerged in the post-Evo years as one of the most important in Bolivia. The work also expands on the changes in both the traditional mining economy and the rise of a new commercial export agriculture.

1. Geography and pre-Colombian civilization
2. The creation of a colonial society
3. Late colonial society: Crisis and growth
4. Revolution and the creation of a nation-state, 1809–1841
5. The crisis of the state, 1841–1880
6. The ages of silver and tin, 1880–1932
7. Disintegration of the established order, 1932–1952
8. From the national revolution to the Cold War, 1952–1982
9. Creating a multiethnic democracy, 1982–2002
10. The emergence of a mestizo and indigenous elite
Political chronology
Tables
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Colonialism & imperialism [HBTQ], 21st century history: from c 2000 - [HBLX], 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], History of the Americas [HBJK]