Coca in Bolivia

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the use of coca in Latin America dates back thousands of years and can be traced back to Ancient Incan Kings and how it is commonly consumed either by chewing on the raw leaves or drinking a tea prepared from ground leaves. For indigenous peoples, its consumption has cultural, medical, economic, and political significance. It is not only socially acceptable, but it is also a deeply engrained tradition. This paper proposes new research to gauge the cultural and political importance of coca among Bolivian people. It discusses how this information is critical for both Bolivian and international policy-makers to develop effective strategies for reducing the world's cocaine problem.

Outline:
Coca Usage
Brief Political History of Bolivia
Cocalero Movement
Coca Substitution and Eradication
Methodology
Results
Budget

From the Paper:

"Coca use in Bolivia can be traced back to the Inca Kings and Nobility who often chewed the leaves of the plant in raw form. Although some of coca grown in Bolivia finds its way into the hands of cocaine producers, domestically cocaine abuse is not considered to be a widespread or serious problem. The chewing of raw coca leaves, however, is a vital part of Bolivian social life. It is a central focus of many cultural and religious rites, including weddings. In many areas, people will gather to chew coca after meals and during breaks at work. For many indigenous people, coca is the single most important symbol of their culture and an attack on coca is seen as an attack on the entire indigenous culture. A crude analogy can be made, telling Bolivians they cannot chew coca is similar to telling Americans they cannot drink coffee or telling the English that cannot drink tea, however these analogies are not that strong as Americans and British do not use coffee or tea for any religious rituals."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. "Background Note: Bolivia." U.S. Department of State. 2007. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35751.htm
• Central Intelligence Agency. "The World Factbook: Bolivia." https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/bl.html
• Chande, Minal. "Bolivia and USA Wage War on the Coca Leaf Farmers." The Lancet 360.9345 (2002) p. 1573. http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=AONE
• Dunkerly, James. "Evo Morales, the 'two Bolivias' and the third Bolivian revolution." Journal of Latin American Studies 39, no. 1 (2007) p. 133. http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=AONE
• Forero, Juan. "Coca Advocate Wins Election for President in Bolivia." New York Times. December 19, 2005. Late Edition, East Coast. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=943334291&sid=2&Fmt=3&clientId=9088&RQT=309&VName=PQD

More papers on Coca in Bolivia:

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