Today’s New York Times Magazine Article on Evo Morales and Bolivia

Today’s New York Times Magazine includes an article well-worth reading for those interested in Bolivia, Che’s Second Coming. The article, by Times writer David Reiff, is a good, fair look at current events in Bolivia and at Morales’ candidacy. I spent a good deal of time with Reiff when he was here and I congratulate him on his solid journalism and evocative writing.

A couple of other comments.

One thing that I applaud is that Reiff, quite rightly, explains that the current wave of protest and political change in Bolivia is the fusion of a rejection of the failed policies of the Washington Consensus economic model and the demand for greater indigenous power. He explains why the drive to cancel Bolivia’s contracts with foreign oil companies, and to demand better deals, is a totally viable policy, a fact underscored by Economic Nobel prize winner Joseph Stiglitz. I also think he is fair in criticizing the MAS position that none of the Bolivian coca crop goes to the illegal drug trade. In terms of Evo, the piece is balanced and fair.

The article also includes some great photographs from our friend here, Kathryn Cook, and some good analysis from our close colleague Roberto Fernandez Teran, an economist at the University of San Simon.