Bolivian war

The Social and Economic Impact of Coca Eradication in Bolivia

In 1997 the Bolivian government, strongly backed financially and morally by the U.S, put the Dignity Plan into effect promising by 2002 to eradicate the cultivation of the coca leaf from its territory except for the 30,000 acres grown in the Yungas. The 30,000 acres in the Yungas are grown for traditional and medical use and is vital for their culture to function. Since 1997, tens of thousands of hectares of coca leave plantations have been eradicated. “In 2001, Bolivia was dropped from the list of major drug-producing countries for the first time in nearly half a century” (The Price of Success). Some believe the war on cocaine and the pressure from the United States does more bad than good. Others believe it’s for the best and cocaine eventually will be eliminated. Coca production that was in Bolivia has now been moved to Columbia and Peru. So far, from the United State’s standpoint, the plan is going...