When one thinks of strikes, street rallies, and political protests, a population census is not the first issue that comes to mind as the reason behind it. But this week’s paralyzation of Santa Cruz de la Sierra – the largest, richest, and most populous department in Bolivia – did not come as a result of labor conflicts, tax reforms, or border disputes.
Instead, the turmoil was a result of the province’s demand for the immediate completion of the country’s national census, which has turned into the region’s most hotly contested issue.
One might wonder how demographics can create...
