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Lopez Sidorkin D.G. Bolivia’s political turbulence: causes and consequences. Eurasian Academic Horizons. 2025; 2(4). Available at: https://eahjournal.ru/PDF/03EAH425.pdf (in Russian).

Bolivia’s political turbulence: causes and consequences

Lopez Sidorkin Daniel Gerardo
Moscow, Russia

Academic adviser: Leskova Irina Valeryevna
State University of Education, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: danek.lopes@yandex.ru

Abstract. The article examines the historical context and economic challenges faced by Bolivia after gaining independence from Spain. The focus is on the issue of access to the Pacific Ocean as a key factor in national sovereignty and economic development. It is shown that since the establishment of the Republic in 1825, the development of the coast (Port of Cochabamba) has been fraught with immense difficulties, including remoteness, harsh natural conditions in the Atacama Desert, lack of infrastructure, and resource scarcity. Despite the government’s attempts to encourage resettlement and development in the region, including tax incentives and land grants, these efforts were not successful. However, significant changes occurred in the mid-19th century with the discovery of guano and saltpeter deposits, attracting foreign investment and transforming Cobihua into an important, albeit short-lived, trading hub. The final point in Bolivia’s presence on the coast was marked by the devastating earthquake of 1877 and the subsequent Pacific War (1879–1883), which resulted in Bolivia’s loss of access to the sea. The article also analyzes the long-standing territorial conflict with Chile, the attempts to resolve it throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, including the appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and explores alternative solutions to Bolivia’s maritime access issue. The article concludes that the problem is complex, combining historical injustices, economic interests, and national identity issues.

Keywords: Bolivia; Chile; Pacific coast; Pacific War; sovereignty; ports of Arica and Cobija; territorial dispute; access to the sea

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