Articles by Benjamin Dangl

History at the Barricades: Evo Morales and the Power of the Past in Bolivian Politics

Benjamin Dangl November 20, 2019 Benjamin Dangl

The following excerpt from my new book, The Five Hundred Year Rebellion: Indigenous Movements and the Decolonization of History in Bolivia, looks at the roots, rise and presidency of Evo Morales, who was overthrown in what is widely understood as a coup on November 10th. The book excerpt, written before this month of violence and state repression, describes how histories and symbols of indigenous resistance have been wielded as tools for liberation and political power in Bolivia, from the government palace to the street barricades. read more

A shantytown in São Paulo, Brazil, borders the much more affluent Morumbi district. Tuca Vieira / Oxfam

The Billionaire Boom: 82% of Global Wealth Produced Last Year Went to Richest 1%

Benjamin Dangl January 22, 2018 Benjamin Dangl

A new report from Oxfam reveals how the global economy empowers the richest 1% while hundreds of millions of people struggle to survive. “The billionaire boom is not a sign of a thriving economy but a symptom of a failing economic system,” said Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of Oxfam. “The people who make our clothes, assemble our phones and grow our food are being exploited to ensure a steady supply of cheap goods, and swell the profits of corporations and billionaire investors.”