Communist Party of Bolivia
Encyclopedia
The Communist Party of Bolivia is a communist party
in Bolivia
. It was founded in 1950 by Raúl Ruiz González and other former members of the Revolutionary Left Party
(PIR). It remained small and did not hold its first national party congress
until 1959.
It soon entered the labor movement and was included in the leadership of the Central Obrera Boliviana and the FSTMB
during the 1960s. However, it remained a minority force in most unions. The Sino-Soviet Split
further weakened the PCB in 1964 Ruiz González and others broke away to form the Communist Party of Bolivia (Marxist-Leninist)
.
At the time, the U.S. State Department estimated the party membership to be approximately 6500.
In 1966 the Cuban-based revolutionary Che Guevara
planned to initiate a guerrilla war
against René Barrientos
, Bolivia's military dictator. The PCB initially pledged its support, but became suspicious of Guevara when he arrived. The party did not participate in Guevara's campaign. Instead, Guevara formed a separate organization, the National Liberation Army
(Ejército de Liberación Nacional).
When democracy was restored in Bolivia in the 1980s, the PCB remained a minor party. In 2003 it lost its designation as a recognized political party.
The PCB publishes Unidad (Unity).
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. It was founded in 1950 by Raúl Ruiz González and other former members of the Revolutionary Left Party
Revolutionary Left Party (Bolivia)
The Revolutionary Left Party was a communist party in Bolivia. It was founded in May 1940 by Dr. José Antonio Arze and other Bolivian intellectuals.The PIR was sympathetic to the Communist International, but did not become an affiliate to the International...
(PIR). It remained small and did not hold its first national party congress
Party Congress
A party congress is a general conference of a political party. The congress is attended by delegates who represent the party membership. In most parties the party congress is the highest decision making body of the organisation and elects the party's leadership bodies such as the National Executive...
until 1959.
It soon entered the labor movement and was included in the leadership of the Central Obrera Boliviana and the FSTMB
Federación Sindical de Trabajadores Mineros de Bolivia
The Union Federation of Bolivian Mine Workers is a labor union in Bolivia that represents miners. Bolivia's miners are commonly regarded as the country's most class-conscious workers. The FSTMB has played an important role in Bolivia's recent history....
during the 1960s. However, it remained a minority force in most unions. The Sino-Soviet Split
Sino-Soviet split
In political science, the term Sino–Soviet split denotes the worsening of political and ideologic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the Cold War...
further weakened the PCB in 1964 Ruiz González and others broke away to form the Communist Party of Bolivia (Marxist-Leninist)
Communist Party of Bolivia (Marxist-Leninist)
The Communist Party of Bolivia was a political party in Bolivia. PCB emerged as a pro-People's Republic of China splinter-group of the Communist Party of Bolivia in 1965...
.
At the time, the U.S. State Department estimated the party membership to be approximately 6500.
In 1966 the Cuban-based revolutionary Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
planned to initiate a guerrilla war
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
against René Barrientos
René Barrientos
René Barrientos Ortuño was a Bolivian politician who served as his country's Vice President in 1964 and as its President from 1964 to 1969....
, Bolivia's military dictator. The PCB initially pledged its support, but became suspicious of Guevara when he arrived. The party did not participate in Guevara's campaign. Instead, Guevara formed a separate organization, the National Liberation Army
National Liberation Army (Bolivia)
The National Liberation Army was a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla organization that operated in Bolivia during the 1960s and 1970s. It was formed by Che Guevara and backed by Fidel Castro's government in Cuba and the Soviet-led alliance in the Cold War...
(Ejército de Liberación Nacional).
When democracy was restored in Bolivia in the 1980s, the PCB remained a minor party. In 2003 it lost its designation as a recognized political party.
The PCB publishes Unidad (Unity).
General Secretaries
- Simón Reyes Rivera 1950 - c. 1967
- Mario Monje Molina (nicknamed “Estanislao”) c. 1967 - c. 1970
- Jorge Kolle CuetoJorge Kolle CuetoJorge Kolle Cueto was a Bolivian communist politician. Kolle was one of the founding members of the Communist Party of Bolivia in 1950. He held the position of First Secretary of the party and edited the central party organ, Unidad. He also had an influence in the miners and factory workers trade...
c. 1970 - 1981 - Marcos Domich Ruiz 1985 - 2003
- Ignacio Mendoza Pizarro 2003 - 2008