Why Bolivia doesn't fit the pattern of historic Latin American coups

On November 10, Bolivian president Evo Morales — who was elected by 61 percent of the population in 2014 — was removed from power via a coup d'etat.

In the days since, progressive politicians around the world — including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar — have expressed their concern, comparing the situation to past U.S.-backed military takeovers in Latin America.

But I believe it's inaccurate and irresponsible to compare what is unfolding in Bolivia with historic coups like General Augusto Pinochet's takeover of Chile in 1973. Rather, the person who brought Bolivia to the brink of insurrection was president Evo Morales himself, whose desire to hang on to power defied the popular will of the Bolivian people.

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Protesters in Bolivia have described Morales' affliction with power as a "borrachera de poder" or a "power binge".

And in fact, power affects our mind in a way that is quite similar to other addictive substances. For example, when one introduces cocaine into their system the human mind experiences euphoria as dopamine and serotonin rush into neurotransmitters and stimulate the brain. After repeated use, when the effect of the drug wears off, the body goes through withdrawals as it searches for a new high. Something similar happens when we are allowed to hold power for long periods of time. Like cocaine, power blasts the mind with strong doses of dopamine and serotonin, and absent meaningful checks and balances, those who wield power begin to find themselves longing for more.

The rise and fall of Evo Morales is a perfect case in point.

Morales was born in 1956 to an Aymara farming family in the tiny town of Isallawi, which is south of Oruro. He served in the military as a young man and led the life of a poor coca farmer until his union leadership began to distinguish him in the late 1970s. In 1997 he rose to national prominence after he was elected to Congress. His socialist platform combined with his humble beginnings and strong advocacy for indigenous communities eventually made him an ideal candidate for president.

In 2006, under the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party, Evo Morales became the nation's first indigenous president. In a nation in which more than 60 percent of citizens are indigenous, his mere presence in the country's highest office spoke volumes about the potential for progressive change that he brought to the table. And across nearly 13 years in office, Morales and his administration delivered.

Since 2006, poverty rates have been cut in half, inequality has been reduced, and the nation's vast majority — the indigenous — have finally gained a voice in politics. Following his first victory at the polls, Morales pronounced, "a new history of Bolivia begins, a history where we search for equality, justice and peace with social justice." Not surprisingly, in a nation marred by colonial exploitation, Morales gained a messiah-like following.

But not everything Morales touched turned to gold. Mr. Morales ran on an eco-friendly platform in 2006 and promised to protect Mother Earth, known locally as "La Pachamama." Unfortunately, the progress he brought to Bolivia often came at the cost of the natural environment. Still, in a world where capital exploitation is nearly a precondition of progress, it wasn't his environmental policy flaws that led to his ultimate demise. Instead, it was something much closer to home.

Evo Morales refused to let go of his hold on power.

In 2006 Morales won his first election with a commanding 53.7 percent of the electorate. In 2011 he won again with 64.2 percent of the vote. At the time, the Bolivian constitution only allowed for two consecutive terms. However, Evo ran a third time in 2014 under the premise that he'd only run once under the new constitution, which was inked into law in 2006 during his first term.

Morales won his third election with a decisive 61 percent of the vote. Most assumed it would be his last term, but in February 2016, Morales put forth a referendum asking the people to abolish the constitution's term limits. For the first time in a decade, Evo lost. It was clear the Bolivian people were ready for power to change hands.

One year later, the Supreme Court argued that it would be a violation of Morales' human rights to restrict his ability to run as many times as he liked. So, in 2019 Mr. Morales ran for an unprecedented fourth term and on October 20, 2019, with just 47.1 percent of the vote — short of a majority and nearly 16 percent less than he won in 2014 — he declared himself the victor in the first round.

That's when people took to the streets and that is when Evo Morales — Bolivia's indigenous messiah — fell from grace.

So was there a coup d'etat in Bolivia?

Yes.

A coup d'état is the sudden seizure of power by the military, a dictator, or another political faction. And that's exactly what happened in Bolivia. The military forced Evo Morales to resign before his third term as president had ended. And although a popular insurrection was in the works, the ultra-right piggy backed on the movement unfolding in the streets and sped things up by working with the armed forces. In his wake, Jeanine Áñez has assumed power as interim president. She has promised to call new elections soon, but her racist and anti-idigenous rhetoric is evidence that Morales' departure may prove to be a big step backward for Bolivia and its people.

However, this wasn't your classic U.S.-funded golpe de estado. Rather, the coup against Evo Morales was the result of his refusal to alternate power. And in a world that is quickly drifting away from democracy, Morales' fall serves as an important reminder that all leaders, regardless of political ideology, are susceptible to the pernicious effects of power.

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