Popular resistance to the Banzer government, led by the tin miners, emerged in the later 1970s; the resulting repression prompted the creation of a Human Rights Assembly. Four women initiated a 23-day hunger strike from December 1977 to January 1978, which had Catholic church support and eventually involved nearly 1,400 people including well known figures. This led to the release of most political prisoners and recognition of trade unions. It was also the signal for renewed political organization. Responding to pressure from below and from the Carter Administration in the USA, Banzer held elections. Political polarization between left and right resulted, however, in frequent elections and a series of coups, including a two year military dictatorship deploying death squads. The coups met with strong initial popular resistance, and by November 1981 renewed worker strikes and occupations created a movement that included a renewed mass hunger strike, and continued strikes and student protests during 1982, In October the military were forced to step down in favour of a leftist coalition elected in 1980.
E. IV.3.a. Resisting Dictatorship 1977-82
Volume One -> E. Resisting Oppressive, Dictatorial, Military or Authoritarian Rule -> E. IV. Latin America -> E. IV.3. Bolivia, Resisting Repression, 1977-82 and 2003 -> E. IV.3.a. Resisting Dictatorship 1977-82
Boots, Wilson Miracle in Bolivia: Four women confront a nation, In Philip McManus, Gerald Schlabach, Relentless Persistence: Nonviolent Action in Latin America (E. IV.1. General and Comparative Studies) Philadelphia PA, New Society Publishers, 2004 , pp. 48-62
On 1977-78 hunger strike.
Towards Democratic Viability: The Bolivian Experience, ed. Crabtree, John; Whitehead, Laurence, Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2001 , pp. 356
Dunkerley, James Rebellion in the Veins: Political Struggle in Bolivia, 1952-82, London, Verso, 1984 , pp. 385
Notes that 1952 revolution is not well covered in the literature (even in Spanish). Charts changing economic and political context, giving weight to the role of the militant working class in the mines, but also notes role of Catholic Church on human rights (pp. 128-31).
Lora, Guillermo A History of the Bolivian Labour Movement, 1848-1971, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1977 , pp. 380
Malloy, James; Gamarra, Eduardo Revolution and Reaction: Bolivia 1964-1985, Oxford, Transaction Books, 1988 , pp. 244
Nash, June We Eat the Mines and the Mines Eat Us: Dependency and Exploitation in Bolivian Tin Mines, New York, Columbia University Press, 1979 , pp. 363
Includes material on strikes, demonstrations, hunger strikes and road blocks.
The online version of Vol. 1 of the bibliography was made possible due to the generous support of the 
The online version of Vol. 2 of the bibliography was made possible due to the generous support of