In a recent post, listed a recent article by Martin Brienen (“Interminable Revolution: Populism and Frustration in 20th Century Bolivia”) . The article was published in the most recent (Spring-Winter 2007) issue of SAIS Review, which has a number of interesting articles on populism around the world (not just Latin America).
While the article incorrectly listed Siles Zuazo as implementing the economic shock therapy recovery in the mid-1980s (it was actually Paz Estenssoro, who took office in 1985), it had some interesting insights into Bolivian politics—and much in keeping w/ Christopher Mitchell’s 1977 The Legacy of Populism in Bolivia (it’s little cited, but I think it’s as important as James Malloy’s 1970 Bolivia: The Uncompleted Revolution).
In short, Brienen argues that Bolivia’s problems stem from the fact that populist mobilization is the norm, due to a chronically weak state—which means that Evo Morales is not a “new” phenomenon, but rather a reflection of a vicious cycle of Bolivian populist leaders rising & falling since the early 20th century. If so, that’s a bleak prospect indeed. But it’s an article definitely worth reading for some interesting comparisons between Evo’s current “revolution” and previous cycles of reform & failure.