POPULATION:
10,265,357
LITERACY RATE:
81%
SELF DEFENSE FORCES:
 Bolivian Armed Forces
LANGUAGES:
 Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
ETHNIC GROUPS:
 Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15
BORDERING COUNTRIES:
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru
BOLIVIA - Before the 1st Central American Conflict, Bolivia produced 80 percent of the worlds cocaine.  The Bolivian government, anxious for American economic assistance, had been working tirelessly to help eradicate the drug trade in their country.  When the Cent-Am conflict reached Bolivia, the government sided with the US against the cartels.  The DEA Bioagent specifically targeting the coca plant was first released in Bolivia, with support from the government.  Overnight the Bolivian economy was completely devastated.  No one could have imagined just how much the economy in Bolivia was dependent on the coca-plant, and without it, there was nothing left, no jobs, no revenue, nothing.  The Bolivian government soldiered on, telling its people that as soon as the war was over, the U.S. would come and invest, providing new jobs for everyone.  It was a nice dream while it lasted.

After 6 years of conflict in Bolivia and the rest of the region, the U.S., crippled by the world stock market crash of '94, and a string of disasters at home, pulled out of the region.  Bolivia, now bankrupt, was left to fend for itself. 

When Columbian Cartels began genetically engineering viral resistant strains of Coca, Bolivia Cartels invested heavily.  They also formed an alliance, becoming the second member of the SAA (South American Alliance), propping up Diego Macheza, leader of the Macheza Cartel, as a legitimate presidential candidate of the cartel created Bolivia Independence Front.  Their message was simple, the old corrupt government, acting as a lapdog for the Americanos, had sold out their own country for nothing, destroyed their own economy for the promise of a US handout.  Vote for Macheza, and he would legalize the cultivation and production of Cocaine completely, to hell with the Americans!

The campaign was enormously succesfull, and in 1998 Macheza was elected into office.  The Macheza Cartel now had the full weight of the Bolivian military and police forces under their complete control, military arms and equipment supplied eagerly by the Neo-Sov's and the Chinese anxious to see America weakened and humiliated.  He immediately began recruiting biologists and botanist to create their own viral resistant strains, and soon Bolivia was once again the largest producer of cocaine in the world.  Agreements were reached with Columbia and Peru for smuggling and distribution.  The US, flooded with the new strains, once again invaded South America, but with the full weight of the Bolivian military as well as the cartels themselves, and even the peasants whose lives now totally relied on the coca trade, kept the Americans from ever gaining a foothold into their country.  When the US pulled out, the Bolivian military chased and harassed the Long Walkers all the way to Panama.

Since then, Bolivia cocaine production has steadily risen, and its economy has soared.  Immigrants from around the world, eager for work and a piece of the yayo-pie have come to Bolivia, independant mercenaries have hired on full time to the Bolivian military, where any combat experience almost guarantees a command position.  While Bolivia is landlocked, its alliance with Peru and Columbia, in exchange for military support and a percentage of the action, keep it well maintained, and President Macheza (who declared himself "President For Life" in 2011) remains overwhelmingly popular among his people.  The wages are fair, the economy is booming, and unlike most dictators he puts great effort into keeping the hearts and minds of his people.  He gives heavily to charity, and has established a social welfare system of universal healthcare and free education.  He does not however tolerate dissent or subversion, and his standing policy is that anyone, foreign or national, who creates dissent or subversion against him will be publicly tortured and imprisoned or executed.

Bolivia welcomes tourists and immigrants, it also allows archaeological expeditions from other countries, even the US, to enter and operate under supervision.  However, be very careful what you say, and to whom.  The government has eyes everywhere, and the Bolivian prison system makes the Black Hole of Calcutta look like Club Med.  The people of Bolivia themselves are for the most part content.  However there is a growing underground movement that opposes the current regime.  They see the warning signs of a 3rd South American conflict on the horizon, and are afraid of the measures the US might go this time to bring the region under control.  They seek to oust Macheza, and have allied themselves with CIA operatives working under deep cover in Bolivia. 

In their efforts to prepare for war, the Bolivian military has instituted a draft of all menbetween the ages of 14 and 50, and asks the women, children and elderly to either enlist, or otherwise support their countries war effort.  Female enlistment between the ages of 15 and 30 has doubled.  Russian and Chinese military advisors and special forces are believed to be in the area actively supporting and training the new recruits, as well as providing them with intelligence reports on American movements.  This has not been confirmed, but CIA operatives are scrambling for any information to back this up.

Bolivia is in incredibly geographically diverse country, from the dense amazonian rainforests along the eastern side, to the highlands of the western border and the Andes mountain range.  Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world is shared with Peru dead smack in the middle of the western border while the worlds largest salt flat, the Salar Del Uyuni, is located in the southwest corner.  Santa Cruz is both the capitol and the largest city in Bolivia.  It is also the most modern and successful city by far, the rest of the cities have been somewhat neglected, and live up to their third world charm (read: shitholes).

President Macheza has allowed Multi-Foods entry to their country, and the corporation has set up massive agri-corp complexes in the northern territories. 

(Written by Deric "D" Bernier.)