Bolivia: A World Power in Lithium, the Coup d'état and the Dispute for Technological Supremacy Between the USA and China

Abstract

This article explores the relations among the coup d’etat in Bolivia, the 2019 new discovery of lithium reserves in that country, and the dispute between the United States and China for technological superiority and dominance of world market shares in the electric vehicles’ industry.

As one of the three countries with significant lithium resources in South America, together with Argentina and Chile, Bolivia was the only one seeking national industrialization with a significant role for the State; and active participation in local value-added chains producing electric vehicles. Analysis is based on United States Geological Survey data.