A Test for Bolivia’s Government

Severe supply shortages and road blockades are shaping the image of Bolivia’s capital, reviving memories of past crises in the country. The escalation is fueled by an explosive mix of political legacies, social conflicts, and growing dissatisfaction among influential groups. The government of President Rodrigo Paz is under acute pressure to act, yet from the very beginning of its term it has been confronted with a dual structural problem: the heavy legacy of the socialist era and an extremely fragile power base of its own.