Chile-Bolivia Border Dispute Flashcards
(14 cards)
What territory does Bolivia claim from Chile?
Bolivia claims sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean via territory it lost (the Litoral) in the War of the Pacific (1879–1884).
What war created the modern boundary?
The War of the Pacific (1879–1884): Chile annexed Bolivia’s coastal province (Litoral)
Which treaty ceded the Litoral to Chile?
Treaty of Ancón (1884) with Peru and a Chilean–Bolivian peace treaty (1904)
What concessions did Chile grant Bolivia in 1904?
Unrestricted commercial transit through Chilean ports and rail access to Antofagasta, but no sovereignty over new land.
What has been Bolivia’s main diplomatic goal?
sovereign access to the Pacific, either through territory transfer or special port rights.
What is Chile’s official stance?
1904 treaty is final, granting only transit rights, not sovereignty or territory transfer.
How does Realism explain this dispute?
power and security: Chile maintains control of strategic coastline; Bolivia, a weaker state, seeks to alter power balance for economic security.
What would Liberalism focus on here?
The potential of international institutions (e.g., ICJ) and economic interdependence—transit agreements—to peacefully resolve the dispute.
How might Constructivism view the conflict?
national identity and historical memory: Bolivia’s maritime claim is part of its national narrative and sense of injustice.
When did this reach the International Court of Justice?
2013, Bolivia filed a case at the ICJ asking Chile to negotiate sovereign access
Why did the ICJ reject Bolivia’s claim?
2018: no legal obligation—treaties did not imply a promise to negotiate sovereignty, only transit rights were binding.
What do transit rights entail?
Move goods and people through Chilean territory and use Chilean ports without tariffs but does not own or control any coastal land.
Why is access to the sea critical for Bolivia?
raises transport costs, hinders export competitiveness, and limits foreign investment.
Are there current negotiations?
Bilateral working groups discuss infrastructure and port access, but sovereignty talks remain off the table.
