Open AccessThe Coca Plant and Bolivian Identity
Author(s) -
Matthew G. Russo
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international researchscape journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2372-1774
DOI - 10.25035/irj.02.01.03
Subject(s) - coca , indigenous , identity (music) , government (linguistics) , political science , politics , battle , political economy , development economics , law , geography , sociology , economics , biology , archaeology , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , physics , acoustics
The political battle rages between the U.S. government, the U.N. and the Bolivian President, Evo Morales, about his efforts to protect, legalize and preserve the symbol of the Andean indigenous identity: the coca plant. The human rights of indigenous populations are being violated by culturally insensitive governments in compliance with U.S. and U.N. law. The questions posed are: Is coca cocaine? What are the economic benefits of the production of coca and who benefits? What is the relationship between coca and Bolivian identity? What would be the impact in the global community if coca is eradicated permanently?