Bolivia: Assessing the Rift

For months, Bolivia has seemed to be on the verge of splitting apart. The divide within the country is along geographic lines — with the lowland departments seeking autonomy from La Paz — but has much more to do with economics than geography. While the wealthy, resource-rich lowlands want more freedom from the central government, President Evo Morales — whose power base is in the indigenous highlands — will put up a fight to keep the lowlands, which are responsible for most of Bolivia's gross domestic product. Other, external forces are also keeping the country together.