¡Cochabamba!: Water War in Bolivia

by Oscar Olivera, Tom Lewis, Vandana Shiva (Foreword)

“Many of the wars of this [20th] century were about oil, but the wars of the next century will be about water.”—Former World Bank Vice President Ismail Serageldin Historically a common trust, water has become the focus of commodification and privatization. It is easy to understand why water is also the center of an international movement to turn back the rising tide of corporate globalization. Sounding a significant opening salvo in the water war is the triumphant struggle of grassroots activists in Cochabamba, Bolivia, who not only regained control of their water supply, but kicked out the transnational corporation that had privatized it. Cochabamba! is the story of the first great victory against corporate globalization in Latin America. Oscar Olivera, a 45-year-old machinist at the center of the movement that brought thousands of ordinary people to the streets, conveys the ideas and emotions of a first-hand participant in this victorious rebellion that has inspired activists around the world. Cochabamba! relates the selling of the city’s water supply to Aguas del Tunari, partially owned by U.S.-based transnational Bechtel, the subsequent astronomical rise in water prices and the refusal of poverty-strapped Bolivians to pay them, explaining how the people organized an opposition and recounting the dramatic struggles that eventually defeated the privatizers. Olivera reflects on the themes that emerged as a result of the war over water; the fear and isolation the Cochabambinos overcame through a spirit of solidarity and mutual aid; the challenges of democratically administering the city’s water supply; and the impact of the “water wars” on subsequent resistance. Oscar Olivera is president of the Cochabamba Federation of Factory Workers and 2001 winner of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. Tom Lewis is Latin America editor for the International Socialist Review and professor of Spanish at the University of Iowa.

Genres: Nonfiction, Bolivia, Politics, History

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical revolutionary memoir, the incidents themselves are rather interesting and (as always) pertinent to the times. I honestly wish he spoke in a more comparative context, be it within Bolivia or across Latin America. Toward the later, more reflective, sections he began to do this, but I felt like that a bit of this was too little too late.

Additionally, he repeats himself…. Quite a bit. I understand this a tendency of political writing, but it felt especially tenuous here. Other than that he makes great points and the compendium format makes this a cool tool for those studying.

3.5/5

[sb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come for the century-defining social uprising, stay for the radical insights/analysis on neoliberalism, the end and evolution of the labor movement, and organizing strategy. Still digesting this one.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

At points very dense but a really interesting account of people power in action.

[Menser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books on neoliberalism that I have ever read. AND it is one of the best books on alternatives to neoliberalism that I have ever read. AND it engaging and easy to read (in the positive sense).

On the face of it, this is the story of how a major urban area in Bolivia fought against the privatization of their water and sewage system (SEMAPA). And won! But the great thing is that not only is the story of the organizing against the privtization rendered in a very engaging manner--largely through interviews with and writings by renowned unionist and urban activist Oscar Olivera--but the second section of the book contains more theoretically oriented analyses of what exactly went down, why the protests were successful and the alternative politics that is being constructed.(by Racquel Gutierez-Aguilar and current Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera. Both of these pieces are excellent and Linera's use of the concept of the "multitude" made famous by Negri and Hardt is done in a very concrete and fascinating manner. Indeed the term of the multitude or "association of associations" combined with a notion of territoriality is what makes this volume ESSENTIAL for current activists and researchers and others because it articulates what comes after the "union-form" of organizing. (Bolivia had a very strong union-workerist tradition that was done in when neoliberalism (in part put in by Columbia economist Jeffrey Sachs) rewrote some law in 1985.

Another crucial contribution of the book is the description of the Coordinadora--the new organizing forum during the actual "water war" and how it operated and the techniques it deployed--shut down of the city,public assemblies etc...
Again, Cochabamba! is one of the best accounts of radical participatory democracy in action, both at the level of protest and the level of alternative political practice.

The book concludes well before Evo. M wins the presidency however,so it does not capture at all the current political scene and turmoil. A pivotal history nevertheless.

[Spicy T AKA Mr. Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book to give you the down low on Bolivian resistance to Bechtel Corporation coming into the country and taking over all the water in order to price gouge/exploit Bolivians. Yes, that's right. All water--including the rain. There was a massive uprising that beat back the corporation and their hired brute force--the state--and won a victory against globalization.

Some of the chapters are really good, some of them, as I recall, read oddly and I wonder if that's due to the translation. Otherwise, definitely a good book to check out in order to find out more about Bolivian resistance to corporate domination.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

¡Cochabamba! is a quick review of the privatization of Bolivian water, grassroots efforts to oppose that privatization, and the impact on development, civil society, and resource politics within Bolivia. The tone tone is advocacy-based and like reading a relatively superficial news or magazine article. However, it provides a beginning introduction to the tension between neoliberal capitalism's focus on privatization-driven globalization, indigenous politics, and environmental justice and resource access disputes among developing communities.

[Ryan Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of its trite title, Cochabamba! is the most in depth and thoughtful narrative about the Water Wars in 2000 and the Gas Wars in 2003 that I have ever read.

Oscar Olivera provides a description of events that is both factual as well as inspirational, and instead of taking a wounded approach - look what these mean multinationals have done to us - he uses Cochabamba's history as a battle cry for the rest of the world. Even though the book is a little dated, I highly recommend it for anyone looking to understand Cochabamba's and Bolivia's popular resistance movement.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the back-and-forth between various authors made it a bit disjointed, I appreciated the firsthand accounts of how ordinary working Bolivians organized themselves to take on a major corporation. The authors were upfront about the challenges and what the leadership could have done better, and also discussed the aftermath of the war--ie, having to organize a community-controlled water system. My only major complaint is that I wanted more!

[LT · Rating 5 out of 5]

really inspiring, very readable story about the people of Cochabamba's victory against privatization, and, specifically, against Bechtel

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down with whitety. People power in the disco hour.