For decades, Bolivia’s abundant reserves of lithium, thought to be the largest in the world, have been touted as the country’s ticket to economic prosperity. But time and again, the sector has run into political hurdles, social resistance, technical issues, and a lack of investment. As newly inaugurated President Rodrigo Paz enters office under a promise of “Capitalism for all,” what will it take to get Bolivia’s lithium sector off—and out from under—the ground?

In this episode, political scientist Dr. Diego von Vacano of Texas A&M University, unpacks Bolivia’s decades-long struggle to advance its lithium industry, how it compares with Chile and Argentina—the other two points of the “lithium triangle,” and prospects for Paz to attract the foreign investment needed to develop critical technological infrastructure while attending to social and environmental concerns.

Learn more about Bolivia’s 2025 election https://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-bolivias-2025-elections and other votes across Latin America this year. https://www.as-coa.org/content/guide-2025-latin-american-elections

The music in the podcast is "Octubre" by Carla Derpic and Mauricio Copa for Americas Society. Find out about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org. Share your love for Latin America: Join Americas Society. https://www.as-coa.org/memberships/engage-americas-society
Becoming a member gives you preferential access to music performances, art exhibitions, book events, our magazine Americas Quarterly, and more.  

Access other episodes of Latin America in Focus at www.as-coa.org/podcast and send us feedback at latamfocus@as-coa.org. Share and subscribe at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of Americas Society/Council of the Americas or its members.

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