Taxes and state power: political instability in Bolivia, 1900-1950

184 Pages·1991·5.604 MB·English

by  Carmenza Gallo

Carmenza Gallo
Taxes and State Power
Political Instability in
Bolivia,
1900-1950
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PRESS
PHILADELPHIA
Temple University Press, Philadelphia 19122
Copyright © 1991 by Temple University. All rights reserved
Published 1991
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American
National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed
Library Materials, ANSI Z39-48-1984 §
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gallo, Carmenza.
Taxes and state power : political instability in Bolivia,
1900-1950 I Carmenza Gallo.
p. em.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-87722-800-0
1. Bolivia-Economic policy. 2. Finance, Public-Bolivia.
3· Taxation-Bolivia. 4-Exports-Bolivia. 5. Social classes
Bolivia. 6. Bolivia-Politics and government-1879-1938.
7- Bolivia-Politics and government-1938-1952. I. Title.
HCI82.G34 1991
336.2'00984-dC20 90-42055
C!P
For Tom

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Issues and Concepts 3
II The Tin Industry's Demand for Public Services 29
III Agricultural Production and State Services 55
IV Class Contradictions and the State's Political Basis 75
v
Tax Policy 97
VI State Building and Political Instability 119
VII Taxes and State Power in Comparative Perspective I45
Notes I 53
Bibliography I 59
Index I7I
vii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First I wish to thank Susan Eckstein for her intelligent guidance and
always useful comments and criticisms, and for conscientiously read
ing the various earlier versions of my dissertation and later the book
manuscript. Her work on Latin America kindled my interest in politi
cal economy and in Bolivia. Above all, I want to thank her for her
encouragement and constant support.
Several other professors and colleagues made crucial contribu
tions to the development of the manuscript. Special thanks are due
to S. M. Miller for his challenging and provocative comments and
for much-needed guidance in rethinking and rewriting many sections;
to Merilee Grindle, Mike Useem, Jeff Coulter, and Sally Cassidy
for reading the drafts and for their useful suggestions; and to Juan
Antonio Morales for his thoughtful comments on drafts of several
chapters and for his encouragement to continue.
Steven Bunker, Ira Katznelson, John Markoff, and Christopher
Mitchell all read the book manuscript and gave me invaluable sug
gestions. Their comments are reflected in crucial ways both in the
overall organization of the book and in the content of many of the
chapters. William Canak's, Thorvald Gran's, and Eric Hobsbawn's
perceptive suggestions helped me rewrite parts of the manuscript.
My debt to Charles Tilly can hardly be overstated. Without his
encouragement, advice, and help, it is unlikely that the manuscript
would have become a published book. With rare intellectual and per
sonal generosity, he gave me numerous insights that resulted in the
recasting of main ideas and in significant revisions of the crucial first
i X
x Acknowledgments
chapter. He not only helped me to eliminate the unnecessary and
to recognize the limitations of my argument but also found time to
advise me in a variety of practical matters. His pro-seminar on state
formation at the New School for Social Research in New York was an
ongoing source of intellectual stimulation and helped me to broaden
the intellectual foundations of my research.
I also want to thank the International Business and Professional
Women's Foundation for a Sally Butler Fellowship, which provided
financial assistance for the initial stages of the research.
Maria Clara Uribe, Juliana Pakes, and Roger Whitaker, with
out complaints, endured conversations in which I rehearsed my ideas
on Bolivia. They helped me enormously with their friendship. Jane
Churchman carefully and patiently helped edit parts of the manu
script; Ellen Levine and Shoshana Vasheetz efficiently and cheerfully
helped with the typing of the various drafts. Barbara Bailey prepared
the manuscript for the publisher. She took care of the last-minute
corrections and adjustments that can make the last stage of a book
project such a nightmare. I very much appreciate C. Lloyd Bailey's
help with the tedious task of cheeking the manuscript. And Doris
Braendel, my editor at Temple University Press, was enthusiastic,
helpful, and supportive.
I have an immense intellectual and personal debt to my hus
band, Thomas R. Bailey. His challenges and criticisms during our
innumerable discussions were invaluable for the formulation of all the
ideas that shape this work. He was willing to take time away from
his own work to help with the practical chores of preparing the many
drafts and to help me rewrite my long, latinate English sentences
any that remain should not be blamed on him. Finally, our daughter,
Daniela, cannot remember a time when she has not had to compete
with the dissertation and (as if that were not enough) the book for
her mother's time-a competition that Daniela has carried out with
charm, wit, and tenacity. She will be often told the many ways the
joy and happiness that she gave us speeded up the completion of this
project.
Taxes and State Power:
Political Instability in Bolivia,
1900-1950