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Paraguay along with Bolivia are the two land-locked countries in Latin America. It is notable that both are very poor. Latin American socialists argue that the region has been expoloited by the Unites States and other industrialized countries. Both Paraguay and Bolivia a a result of being land locked have limited international commerce. This would mean that they should be the lease exploited, yet they are both deperately poor. Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain as a result of developments in Buenos Aires (1811). The country endurred the greatest lossess of any Latin American country during the traumatic war of the Triple Alliance (1865-70). Paraguay suffered the loss of two-thirds of all adult males--virtually unpredented in history.
It also loss much of its territory. The lossess were also felt economically and Paraguay entered the 20th century as one of the most backward countries in the region. Paraguay as a result of the Chaco War with Bolivia gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region (1932-35). General Alfredo Stroessner who goverened the country for 35 years did little to modernize it (1954-89). Paraguay has managed relatively free presidential elections since then, but economic progress has proven more difficult. It is a very poor country with a large Native American population. Both Spanish and Guarani are official languages. The religion is primarily Christian. Native American population was converted to Christianity during the colonial era. The country is ovewealmingly Catholic. There is also a small Protestant minority as a result of the work of missionaries. While we have developed very little information on the country, we do have a page on Parguayan soccer. This of course is a testimony to the global reach of the sport.
Paraguay along with Bolivia are the two land-locked countries in Latin America. Paraguay borders Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. The Paraguay River cuts across the mis section of the country dividing it into eastern and western regions ith stikingly diffeent terraines. The eastern region (Paraguay Oriental/Paraneña region) and the western region (Paraguay Occidental/the Chaco) both gently slope into the Paraguay River. The Paraneña region is a mixt of plateaus, gentle rolling hills, and valleys. The Chaco region won in the war with Bolivia in the 1930s is an immense piedmont plain, less well watered than the Paraneña. Almost ll of Paraguay's population (some 95 percent) live in the Paraneña region. With the Paraneña region reaching southward and the Chaco extending to the north, Paraguay is cut by the Tropic of Capricorn. The country thus experiences both subtropical and tropical climates.
The Guaraní people established themselves in large areas east the Andes before the arrival of the Spanish. They fought th Inca atteming to expamd into their area. They were the group which the Jesuits attempted to protect with missions (called reductions) in the poorly defined border area berween Spanish Argentina and Portuguese Brazil. The Spanish who moved into the area were from Buenos Aires in costrast to Bolivia where the Spanish came from Peru. Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain as a result of developments in Buenos Aires (1811). The country was dominated by father and son dictatorrs Carlos Antonio López (1792-1862) and Francisco Solano López Carrillo (1827–70). Paraguay had a small popukatiin and a in danger of being absorbd by Buenis Aires-dominate Argentina. They sought to prevent tghat by facoring the Amer-Indian population--the Guaraní. It was ghe inly Latin American coujntry in which the native population was favored. Even today it isthe Latin American country with the least ethnic diversity--a mestizo nation. They build a huge army given the country's size and Launched the War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) --often called the Paraguay War. As a result, the country endurred the greatest lossess of any Latin American country during the catertrophivc War. Something like two-thirds of all adult malesperoished--virtually unpredented in history. It also loss much of its territory. The lossess were also felt economically and Paraguay entered the 20th century as one of the most backward countries in the region. Paraguay as a result of the Chaco War with Bolivia gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region (1932-35). General Alfredo Stroessner who goverened as a dictatir for 35 years did little to modernize the coujntry (1954-89). Paraguay has managed relatively free presidential elections since then, but economic progress has proven more difficult.
It is notable that both land-locked South American countries are very poor. Latin American socialists argue that the region has been expoloited by the Unites States and other industrialized countries. Both Paraguay and Bolivia as a result of being land locked have more limited international commerce than the coastal countries. This would mean that they should be the lease exploited, yet they are both deperately poor. Paraguayan percaputa uncome approaces about $7,000 dollars annualy, low by even South American standards, but somewhat higher than Bolivia when percapita income is loser to $6,000 annually (2012) The country has some important economic advtages. The most important is abundant freshwater, a critical natural resource thtt many countries are habing increaing problems with. Paraguay benefits from countless streams that form the river network of the River Plate Basin. The Guarani Aquifer, believed to be one of the largest reserves of fresh water on earth and extends across the entire country. Even so, agriculture production is affected by periodic droughts. The Guarani and Paraguay River not only provide water for africulkture, but bountiful quantities of inexpensive clean hydro-electric power. The country has a market economy and like many Latin American cuntries, there is a substantial informal sector, which includes the re-export of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, inckuding Brazil Uruguay, and Argentina. Many urban residents make a living by operating microenterprises or working as street vendors. In rural areas, a large percentage of the population work as farmers, many on a subsistence basis. The substantial size of the informal sectormakes national economic statistics educated guesses at best. We note varying estimates of Paraguayan economy. One source claims that "real income has stagnated at 1980 levels." The World Bank gives a more optimistic assessment stressing the modernization of the agricultural export sector and rising commodity prices. Paraguay is an especially important soy exporter. Beef and other agricultural producsare important. Soy and beef now constitute 50 percent of expoorts. The country was hit by a drought in 2008 and then the severe world-wide recesessioin in 2009. Growth has been highly volitile since 2009 with some very good years, affected by Government stimulus packages. Although volitile, growth in recent years has aberaged anout 5 percent. Drought and foot-and mouth disease impaired 2012 results. Economists list political uncertainty, corruption, lack of needed structural reform, and poor infrastructure as important limiting factors. The World Bank reports important advances in health care and public education.
The fact that the indigenous Guarani culture, except the religion, has basically disappeared mean that clothing styles are essentially Western, similar to the neighnoring Spanish speaking countries, esorcially Argentina and Uruguay. In recent years we see boys genberally wearing popular American styles. The popularity of soccer (fiitball) has also inflkuenced casual styles.
We note varying estimates about Paraguayan ethnicity. It is notably the only non-Andean country in which Native Americans (Amerindians) are an important part of the country's ethnic mix. All sources, however report that the country is largely Mestizo, meaning a mix of Native Americans. The estimates range from about 75-95 percent. The variation presumably comes from the tendency in Latin America to mix ethnicity with cultural behavior, many Native Americans who wear European dress and speak Spanish are often seen as Mestizo. Another problem is Paragjuay's weak statistical system. And there is also agreement that Native Americans and Mestizos are today highy assimilated into Paraguayan society through extensive intermarriage. As a result, ethnically and culturally, Paraguay is one of the homogeneous populations in South America.
That said, Guarani is still widely spoken and along with Spanish an official language. Given the fact that the Spanish came to Paraguay in relatively mall numbers compared to the indegenous Native American population, the Mstizio population has a relatively small Spanish European component. The Guaraní Native Americans belonging to the Tupi-Guaraní linguistic group. In the era before DNA studies, linguistics was the principal way of identifying Native-American ethnic groups. The Guarani are commonly distinguished from the related Tupi by their use of the Guaran� language. Guarani was in the past looked down upon by the culturally Spanish upper and middle classes, but has gradually become a matter of pride and a popular symbol of national distinctivene. This group dominated a large area of South America east of the Andes before arrival of the Spanish and Portuguese. They were the group which the Jesuits attempted to protect with missions (called reductions) in the poorly defind border area berween Spanish Argentina and Portuguese Brazil. There is today little trace left of the original Guaraní culture except the language. There is also small numbers of other etnic groups. The largest group i unassimilated Native Americans. Here the numbers vary widelly. Some estimates are as low as 1-3 percent. he actual number if you go by ethnicity rather than cultural behavior is probably much higher. There are also small numbrs of unmixed African, European or Asian immigrants. The estimates that report lower Mestizio numbers tend to report higher Spanish/European numbers. And immigration has added to the European admixture. Asian immigrants include mostly Japanese and Koreans. Japanese settlement began in the region between Encarnación to Caazapá (1950s). There is also a well-established Japanese community in neighboring Brazil. Similar Korean settlement began (1960s).
Our information on boyhood activities in Paraguay is very limited. We have begun to collect some information. We do not yet know much about Paragayan schools. The religion is primarily Christian. Native American population was converted to Christianity during the colonial era. The country is ovewealmingly Catholic. Children traditionally do First Communion ceremonies. There is also a small Protestant minority as a result of the work of missionaries in the 20th century. While we have developed very little information on the country, we do have a page on Parguayan soccer. This of course is a testimony to the global reach of the sport. We have been unable to find information about Paraguayan youth groups.
Our Paraguayan archive is very small. Thus we do not yet have much information on Paraguayan families. Parguay is one of the Latin american countries with the Largest portion of Native Americans, in part like neighboring Bolivia, in the remote heart of south america. Paraguay is a multi-ethnic country with both Spanish and Native American families (primarily Guaran�). There is also a substantial mestizo population. All of this affects affects Paraguayan family life. We have Spanish (European, Native American, and msetizo families. We are just beginning to acquire information on families at this time.
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